2025 Spring Semester Award Recipients
On Thursday, April 24th the Department of Criminal Justice celebrated our May 2025 Graduating Class with a picnic and recognition of our criminal justice award winners.
John C. Klotter Award:
This award is presented to the senior BSCJ degree candidate(s) with the highest cumulative GPA. Named after John C. Klotter, a distinguished former faculty member who was instrumental in founding the School of Police Administration, now the Department of Criminal Justice, the award honors his legacy. Professor Klotter served as Dean of the school and Director of the Southern Police Institute from 1971 to 1981. The award was presented to Ava Gregory-Mabrey and Olivia Jo Hogan
Kenneth R. Nally Award
The Kenneth R. Nally Award is named for a graduate of our program and Louisville Police Department Officer who was killed in the line of duty. Nominations are solicited from the top 10% of this year’s BS CJ graduating class for outstanding service to the university and the community. Nominations are reviewed and selected by the CJ Alumni Council. The award was presented to Olivia Jo Hogan.
Kenneth J. Marshall Award
The Kenneth J. Marshall Award is named for a former faculty colleague who had an extensive career in the field of criminal justice and who died an untimely death. Nominations are solicited from the master’s candidates graduating with a 3.5 or higher grade point average who have made significant contributions either through scholarly activity, service, or both to the field of criminal justice. Nominations are reviewed and the winner selected by our CJ Alumni Council. The award was presented to Ethan Matthew Meyer.
Ida B. Wells Award
This prestigious honor is given to a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice graduate who has demonstrated remarkable perseverance and resilience in achieving their degree. Named after Ida B. Wells—an influential African American journalist, newspaper editor, suffragist, sociologist, and trailblazer in the civil rights movement—this award reflects the faculty’s recognition of your dedication and strength. The award was presented to Taylor Marie Smith.
Kennedy Oliviann Slayton was recognized for her three-year commitment to our Criminal Justice Outreach and Recruitment 2022-2025.
Congratulations to all our award winners and to our entire May 2025 Graduating Class!
