Academic Excellence Award
The Academic Excellence in Psychology Award honors the performance of undergraduate students in major classes and one award will be given annually for each major (PSY, BNS). Recipients of the prestigious award will have demonstrated scientific literacy, time management skills, outstanding in-class participation, excellent written or/and oral skills, critical thinking, and overall academic excellence. Award recipients are nominated by the Psychology faculty and selected by the Psychology Department Awards Committee.
Nomination Process
Psychology faculty will nominate candidates by submitting a supportive letter to the Psychology Department Awards Committee. Along with describing why the student is deserving of this award, please make sure this letter includes:
- The student’s GPA
- Relevant coursework
- 1-2 artifacts of their work (e.g., paper or other assignment)
Timeline and Recognition
The Awards Committee will send an email calling for nominations beginning in December and faculty will have until mid-February to submit letters. The letters can be submitted anytime up until the deadline.
Winners will be selected in February and be announced in early March. Winners will be recognized at the Psychology Department Awards Ceremony in April. They will receive a framed certificate and they will be featured on the Department website.
2025 Recipient of the Academic Excellence Award
Rachel McGervey
How did you become interested in psychology?
I have always been interested in psychology since I was young because of the several psychological television shows I watched, but I never actually understood what all of psychology entailed. I only had the opportunity to take one basic psychology course in high school and even from that I knew that this field was something that I wanted to pursue. After I started college and began to take more psychology courses, I knew that I wanted to continue on this path and continue learning about the mind, different behaviors, and all of the other things associated with psychology.
What has been your favorite psychology class and why?
My favorite psychology class that I have taken is my Psychology Capstone class. This class involved a lot of critical thinking about psychological topics and theories throughout the years through reading several books. This class was challenging, but I found that it really helped me become better at thinking deeply, as well as helped me learn more about important psychological theories. I loved this class because it really helped me realize how passionate I truly am about psychology and encouraged me to use that thinking more in everyday life.
What are you planning to do after graduation?
After graduation, I plan to take some time off from school and begin to work in the field of psychology. I want to find a job that gives me more experience in the field while also directing me to a specific area of psychology that I would like to pursue. After gaining some more experience, I would love to go to graduate school to earn my master’s degree and learn even more about psychology.