Hartman and Kraus Honored With USD Belbas-Larson Awards
Hartman and Kraus will be recognized at the USD commencement ceremony and receive a framed certificate, a commemorative medal and a $5,000 tribute.
Candidates for the awards are nominated by students and colleagues and are selected by a faculty committee based on a variety of metrics such as demanding rigorous standards of performance, inspiring students to greater achievement and ensuring course content represents the highest standards in the field.
Cheryl Hartman, Ph.D., honored in the non-tenured category, is a senior lecturer in sociology within the Department of Anthropology & Sociology in the College of Arts & Sciences.
“Receiving this award represents the highest honor of my career, as I have immense respect for previous recipients and the award’s legacy,” said Hartman. “As a senior lecturer at USD – Sioux Falls, I’m surrounded by talented instructors across a series of disciplines. In the classroom, students inspire me with their active exchange of ideas, their engagement with big questions and their commitment to grappling with sociological viewpoints. Teaching for USD has been one of the best experiences of my life. When I heard I had received the Belbas-Larson award, I couldn’t breathe.”
Hartman joined the USD Department of Anthropology & Sociology in 2019. As the only full-time sociology faculty member on the USD – Sioux Falls campus, she teaches all but one course in the sociology major. These include sociology courses in theory, research methods, statistics, criminology, juvenile delinquency, domestic and intimate violence, deviance, society and personality, religion, family, partnering relationships and social class. Her scholarship interests include research on adult third culture kids and on social class, with a new interest in the sociology of religion. She is most proud of the learning engagement she fosters with students as she teaches across a varied course curriculum.
Sonja Kraus, D.M., honored in the tenured category, is an associate professor of cello/bass in the Department of Music in the College of Fine Arts.
“My students at USD are at the center of my life’s work. I care deeply about creating meaningful opportunities for them to grow and thrive, both as musicians and as human beings,” said Kraus. “For me, teaching is not only about developing artistry, but about guiding students toward confidence, curiosity and a sense of purpose. This award feels like a recognition of that shared journey.”
As an educator, Kraus has led the growth of the low strings program at USD and co-developed a chamber music curriculum that has expanded performance and collaborative opportunities for students. Her teaching and artistic work were recognized with USD’s President’s Research Award in Creativity in 2025.
In her teaching career, she is most proud of the sustained growth of the low strings program at USD, both in size and at an artistic level. Equally significant is the co-development of a chamber music program, which has expanded opportunities for collaboration, high-level performance and artistic growth, including initiatives such as the Cancelosi Chamber Music Series. She currently teaches undergraduate and graduate applied cello lessons, undergraduate and graduate chamber music, and cello pedagogy. Together, Kraus’ efforts reflect a broader commitment to building a program in which students can thrive artistically, professionally and personally.
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