Class of 2021 Awards

Endowed by University of Delaware’s past president E. Arthur Trabant in honor of his mother, the annual Nellie Thompson Rudd Award acknowledges a graduating senior with a major or minor in Women & Gender Studies, who has demonstrated excellence in scholarship, leadership and service to the Department of Women & Gender Studies and to the University of Delaware.

The 2021 Nellie Thompson Rudd Award was presented to Sophia Kekai Smith, graduating with majors in Women & Gender Studies and Biological Sciences. After graduation, Sophia plans to attend medical school and pursue a career as a physician, while incorporating social justice advocacy into her work.

The Kathleen Doherty Turkel Award for Social Justice Activism was established to honor the work of Dr. Turkel, who retired from the Department of Women & Gender Studies after 35 years of teaching at the University of Delaware, where she has been an inspirational teacher and mentor to thousands of students. The Award is presented to a student majoring in Women & Gender Studies in recognition of their social justice activism on campus or in the larger community.

The 2021 The Kathleen Doherty Turkel Award for Social Justice Activism was presented to Laurel Della Valle, graduating with Bachelor’s degrees in Women & Gender Studies and Sociology, with a Concentration in Domestic Violence Prevention and Services. After graduation, Laurel plans to take time to work and gain experience before attending graduate school to earn a Master's degree in social work.