The Department of Psychology’s Undergraduate Awards Committee is pleased to announce the 2007-2008 Undergraduate Research & Service Awards Competition.  Five awards are available, three for research and two for service.  Applicants must be seniors who are graduating in December or May of the current academic year.  The deadline for submission of application materials is October 31st and awardees will be notified November 15th.

Award Descriptions

I.   Research Awards

The Williams-Kowal Award is awarded to a student interested in basic science research.  It is named for Professor Emeritus John Williams, who served as the first chair of the Department of Psychology, and Professor Emeritus Kathleen Kowal. 

The Michael Bradley Award is awarded to a student interested in applied research and is named for Professor Emeritus Michael Bradley.

The Cape Fear Area Psychological Association Award is for basic or applied research by a student interested in graduate work in applied areas such as one of the mental health professions.

II.   Service Awards

The Joseph Awkard Service Award is for a member of Psi Chi who has provided a significant contribution to service.  It is named for the late Professor Emeritus Joe Awkard who was the first advisor for UNCW's Psi Chi Chapter.  Note that, although the Psi Chi advisor makes recommendations for this award, the student files the application. 

The Martha Jo Clemmons Award is given to a student who works in the main office, or who has provided special service to the day to day operations of the department.  It is named for Martha Jo Clemmons, a longtime administrative assistant who died in 2001 from cancer at the age of 56. 

Eligibility

Applicants must be seniors who are graduating in December or May of the current academic year.

Application

I.   Deadline & Notification

Application receipt date for all awards is October 31st. If this deadline falls on a weekend, applications are due the following workday. The awardees will be notified November 15th. Application materials should be submitted to the Psychology Department Main Office, Room 110 SB. This deadline allows the awardees to be recognized before applying for graduate programs and jobs. Presentations will be made at whichever graduation ceremony the awardees will be attending: December or May.

Nominations for the Martha Jo Clemmons Award will be made in accordance with the above deadlines, and will be presented at whichever graduation ceremony the awardee will be attending: December or May.  

II.   Materials

Applications must be typed. Materials are to be completed by the applicant. Materials for both the research and service awards (with exception of the Martha Jo Clemmons Award) include the following:

• Cover Sheet
• Application Questions
• Abstract of research or description of service (maximum 175 words)

Note that faculty supervisors will only be contacted for recommendation if the applicant is seriously being considered for the award.

Selection of Recipients

Awardees will be chosen by the Psychology Undergraduate Steering Committee (with the exception of the Martha Jo Clemmons Award, which will be decided by the Psychology office staff). The main criterion used for selection is the applicant’s GPA. Students can receive only one award. If there is not a qualified student, the award will not be given that year.

The award includes the student’s name placed on an award plaque in the Department of Psychology main office, recognition at departmental graduation, and a feature and photo on the Department of Psychology’s website.

Click here for a copy of the application form

Click here for a description of last year's award winners