Each local chapter of Theta Alpha Kappa may honor a student every other year with the Undergraduate Achievement Award. This $100 award is funded by the national TAK office and is granted to a student selected by the local chapter representative. (As such, this award is not competitive beyond the local level.)
The award is available to half the chapters each academic year. Chapters whose chapter numbers end in the digits 0–4 may select an honoree in academic years in which the fall semester (or quarter) occurs in an odd calendar year (Fall 2021, 2023, 2025, etc.). Chapters whose chapter numbers end in the digits 5–9 may select an honoree in academic years in which the fall semester (or quarter) occurs in an even calendar year (Fall 2022, 2024, 2026, etc.). See the list here to know your chapter’s number.
Selection criteria are left to the discretion of the local chapter and chapter representative but might focus on overall academic excellence, chapter leadership, outstanding public service, or (in the case of a sophomore or early junior inductee) as an encouragement award toward continued excellence.
To name an awardee, the chapter moderator should send the student’s name and current mailing address to the TAK treasurer, by post (on institutional letterhead) or by email (from one’s institutional email account; no emails from private service providers such as Yahoo, Gmail, etc., will be accepted):
Prof. Michael Berger, TAK Treasurer
Emory University – Dept of Religion
S210 Callaway Center
537 Kilgo Circle
Atlanta, GA 30322
Upon receipt of this information, an award check will be issued directly to the student.