The division of social sciences congratulates graduating recipients of the university's most prestigious student honors, awarded for scholastic achievement, extraordinary service, and personal courage and persistence. 

• Amelie Calderon has won the Thomas More Storke Award for Excellence, the campus’s highest honor, for her outstanding scholarship and extraordinary service to the university, its students and the community. Calderon is also a co-winner of the Pahl "Making a Difference" Award. Calderon will graduate with degrees in political science and feminist studies.
• Marina Habib has won the Jeremy D. Friedman Memorial Award, which recognizes outstanding leadership, superior scholarship and contributions to undergraduate life on campus. Habib will graduate with degrees in communication and sociology.
• Tara Mandrekar, who will graduate with degrees in political science and feminist studies, has received the Luis Leal Award for outstanding interdisciplinary achievement in the social sciences. The award was established in honor of the late Luis Leal, a professor emeritus of Chicana and Chicano Studies, whose presence and scholarship greatly enriched the Santa Barbara campus.
• Jasmine Gao has received the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research for her independent research project on social media in the age of misinformation. Her research also won a top paper award from the Western State Communication Association. Gao will graduate with a degree in Communication and Economics. 
• Amruta Baradwaj was selected as the student speaker at the first social sciences commencement ceremony. She will graduate with a degree in Political Science. 
• Tara Shafazand was selected as the student speaker for the second social sciences commencement ceremony. She will graduate with a degree in Sociology.