Annual Awards

Congratulations to our outstanding 2011-2012 students!

Cassidy Thigpen
Outstanding Graduate Student

The 2011-2012 Outstanding Graduate Student Award was presented to Cassidy Thigpen. The recipient of this award is chosen based on various accomplishments, which include: exceptional academic performance, involvement in research, taking an active role in the program, and potential for future success. Cassidy currently maintains a 4.0 GPA and was tapped for Phi Kappa Phi in the fall of 2011. Throughout her time in the program, she has assisted numerous professors, helping Dr. Chris Bell with the Fall Lecture Series, Dr. Tadd Patton with his animal lab, and Dr. Rebecca Rogers with Cognitive Assessment classes. Her quest for knowledge extends beyond classroom and she loves to bring outside information into class discussions. I really wasn't expecting this because we have so many intelligent and motivated individuals in my cohort. They definitely push me to do my best. I truly appreciate being recognized by the faculty, as I look to them for guidance and have an enormous amount of respect for them as professionals. I'm sad that Dr. Bell couldn't be here to see me receive the award. He opened my eyes to my own potential and kept pushing me forward. Plus, he tolerated all of my self-deprecating remarks. I can never thank the psychology faculty enough for their support and above all else, their encouragement.

Miranda Barenie
Outstanding Undergraduate Student

Miranda Barenie is the recipient of the 2011-2012 Outstanding Undergraduate Senior Psychology Award. To receive this award, Miranda needed at least a 3.0 GPA, to be actively involved in research, and to participate in an extracurricular activity. Miranda Barenie has gone above and beyond the minimum requirements for this award. Not only does she have a perfect 4.0 GPA, but she is very active in the psychology department. Miranda is the ideal student in the classroom. She is the president of Psi Chi and is involved in research. I am excited to receive this award. I really do love the psychology department at ASU and am honored to receive this award. My interest in research first stemmed when I took introduction to psychology with Dr. Janit. The Milligram and Zimbardo studies are particularly what intrigued me. I am grateful for the support from the faculty, particularly Dr. Topolski, who has been a great research mentor. What I mostly love about research is wondering about a phenomenon or human behavior and having the ability to go seek answer to my questions.