Ruth Hamilton Award 2024 presented to Sociology student Kaylin Casper

April 23, 2024 - Karessa Weir

MSU Sociology has awarded the 2024 Ruth Hamilton Award to second-year Sociology and Humanities double major student Kaylin Casper. 

The Ruth Hamilton Award is one of MSU's ‘All-University Awards for Excellence,’ which has a perpetual endowment and is named after Dr. Ruth Simms Hamilton, a distinguished sociologist whose work over decades made major contributions to the understanding of the African Diaspora. Dr. Hamilton also made significant contributions to sociological theory and our understanding of international migration, urbanization, and inequality. 

Kaylin is also one of three MSU students nominated for the prestigious Udall Undergraduate Scholarship. 
Sponsored by the Udall Foundation, the scholarship is designed to financially support students interested in Tribal policy, Native American health care, and environmental issues. The foundation anticipates nationally distributing around 55 scholarships in 2024.   

Kaylin was nominated by Associate Professor and Undergraduate Program Director Sarah Prior, who has taught Kaylin in three courses. 

“Ms. Kaylin Casper is an incredibly high-achieving student in the Department of Sociology, The Social Science Scholars Program and a member of MSU’s Honors College,” Dr. Prior said. “Ms. Casper is earning a BA in both Sociology and Humanities: Pre Law. She has been involved deeply in the Sociology program including being a ULA and has established a very strong academic record with well-rounded extra-curricular engagement.  

“Ms. Casper is a student leader in the RSO NAISO (Native American Indigenous Student Organization). Ms. Casper is a member of Alpha Kappa Delta, the International Sociology Honor Society and an MSU Writing Center Consultant. She also is a finalist for the Udall Scholarship and was nominated for the American Sociological Association Honors Program.”