ÌÇÐÄVlog

The Department of Criminology on the ÌÇÐÄVlog St. Petersburg campus recently celebrated achievement, leadership, service and scholarship at its second annual awards banquet. The event brought together students, faculty, alumni and community members to honor the people and partnerships that continue to shape criminology at ÌÇÐÄVlog St. Petersburg.

Ariana Cobb, an alumna of the Criminology program, returned to campus as the evening’s keynote speaker, offering a powerful message centered on growth, boldness and resilience. With more than a decade of experience as a trainer in the federal court system, Cobb’s career reflects the impact and leadership the department seeks to cultivate in its graduates.

Cobb was also honored during the banquet with the Growing Forward Award. This award recognizes an individual who demonstrates meaningful personal growth, resilience, self-reflection and a strong commitment to continued progress. In remarks accompanying the award presentation, she was described as an inspiration and an exemplar of grace, leadership, perseverance, advocacy and integrity. She was celebrated as someone who embodies what it means to grow through hardship and continue evolving with intention and strength.

honoring Student Achievement and Impact

At the heart of the evening was a celebration of student excellence. Awards recognized a wide range of contributions, reflecting the depth and diversity of student engagement within the department.

Among the honorees, Elaina Hawkins received the Outstanding Undergraduate Award, while Lila Morgan was recognized with the Excellence in Leadership Award. Nico Allen earned the Passion and Purpose Award for his advocacy and commitment to meaningful work. Research excellence was highlighted through awards presented to students from the TRAIL Lab and ÌÇÐÄVlog Trafficking in Persons (TIP) - Risk to Resilience Lab, including Jacob Blankenhorn, Christina Powell, Erica Chong, Lauren Abad Begue and Kathryn Muller.

Additional awards acknowledged students for critical thinking, service, advocacy, engagement and resilience. These honors recognized not only academic success, but also the ways students contribute to the classroom, campus and broader community through their voices and actions.

The evening concluded with the department’s most distinguished student recognitions. Christian Tapia received the Man of Distinction Award and Lily Curwick was honored with the Woman of Distinction Award. These awards celebrated personal growth, integrity, leadership and the lasting impact these students have made on others.

Recognizing Outstanding Faculty

The banquet also honored faculty members whose dedication and service have profoundly shaped the department and student experience.

Cary Hopkins Hall, MA, visiting assistant instructor, received the Wonder Woman Award for her exceptional commitment to students, teaching and the criminology community. Based on numerous student nominations, the award reflected her deep influence on students’ academic and personal growth.

Dawn K. Cecil, PhD, professor and St. Petersburg campus chair, was presented with the Distinguished Service Award in recognition of more than 20 years of extraordinary dedication to ÌÇÐÄVlog St. Petersburg. Her leadership, mentorship, advocacy and teaching have left a lasting mark on generations of students and the campus as a whole.

Celebrating Community Partnerships

Community engagement was a central theme of the evening, with awards recognizing partners whose collaboration strengthens experiential learning, trauma-responsive practice and community-engaged education.

Metropolitan Ministries received the Trauma-Responsive Care Award for its commitment to understanding and responding to human suffering in meaningful, compassionate and trauma-informed ways. The department noted the powerful impression the organization made during a student site visit, where students witnessed a level of care and responsiveness that reflected the importance of meeting people with dignity, support and active human connection.

Zuly Gonzalez of CASA-Pinellas received the Distinguished Victim Advocate Award for her dedicated service, courageous support and unwavering commitment to survivors of domestic violence. She was recognized for consistently showing up in spaces where survivor advocacy is needed and for ensuring that survivors’ voices, experiences and needs remain centered. Her work was described as deeply empathetic, steady and impactful across projects and partnerships.

Chief Anthony Holloway, chief of police of the St. Petersburg Police Department, was presented with the Community Partner Award in recognition of his steadfast support and collaboration. He was honored as a leader who values dialogue, partnership and community-engaged work, and whose openness to working with the department has expanded opportunities for students and strengthened ties between the university and the broader community. His support has played a major role in helping the department pursue meaningful partnerships and initiatives.

Sgt. Jim Hasson of the St. Petersburg Police Department received the Distinguished Law Enforcement Leadership in Higher Education Award for his broad and lasting impact on student learning and the department’s educational mission. Through classroom visits, podcasts, recorded course content, guest speaking and countless conversations, he has brought an authentic, transparent and deeply human perspective of policing into academic spaces. He was recognized not only for his service in law enforcement and the military, but also for the way he bridges professional experience with trauma-informed care, mental health awareness and reflective engagement with students and faculty.

Together, these partnerships exemplify the department’s belief that criminology education is strongest when rooted in real‑world relationships and lived experience.