Every academic year, the Department of African & African American Studies offers the following awards to students who have achieved remarkable accomplishments in areas such as academic excellence and community service.
Universally recognized for his scholarship, historian John Hope Franklin has many accolades to his name. In 2004, Black Issues In Higher Education (now called DIVERSE: Issues In Higher Education) marked its 20th anniversary by initiating the John Hope Franklin awards to honor those who have demonstrated the highest commitment to access to and excellence in American education.
This award is given to the student in the department with the highest cumulative GPA.
Eligibility:
A student should
- be in the senior year
- be currently pursuing a major in AAAS
A relentless advocate for education and civil rights, Mary McLeod Bethune accomplished extraordinary things in her life including starting a private school for African American girls which later became the Bethune-Cookman College (a co-educational junior college) and becoming an advisor to President Franklin D Roosevelt. Faculty and students may nominate research papers or projects in any written form from African & African American Studies classes and classes cross-listed with the department.
This award recognizes excellence in student research and writing in the disciplines of African & African American Studies (AAAS).
Eligibility:
For the Undergraduate Writing Award, a student should
- be in the senior year
- be currently pursuing a major or minor in AAAS
- have written the paper for an AAAS-owned or cross-listed course with an AAAS faculty member (primary, joint, or secondary)
In 1996, Karla FC Holloway was appointed head of African American Studies at Duke. She worked to double the course offerings, to establish a graduate certificate, and to have Duke’s African American Studies program become the first in the nation to have independent tenure lines.
This award is given to students in the department who have made a significant contribution to the Duke community. For example,
- a commitment to community service at Duke
- an engagement in a new project(s) to improve the university community or efforts to expand on existing programs
- commitment to connecting academic studies to social action
Eligibility:
A student should
- be in the senior year
- be currently pursuing a major or minor in AAAS
Following the establishment of the Black Studies program at Duke University in 1969, Walter C. Burford was named the next year as its inaugural head. He came to Duke with a diverse background of education and experience in counseling, social work, and religion.
This award is given to students in the department who have made a significant contribution to the larger community of Durham. For example,
- a history of community service while at Duke
- experience in extending what you have learned at Duke to the Durham or broader community
- a commitment to engaging with those beyond the University’s walls
Eligibility:
A student should
- be in the senior year
- be currently pursuing a major or minor in AAAS