Several awards and scholarships are available to undergraduate and graduate psychology students. Some require an application form, some require an email or letter, and some require a nomination. Descriptions of each and their requirements are below.
Undergraduate Awards
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Roger Bailey/Otto Zinser Outstanding Senior in Psychology Award
This award is given in recognition of the most outstanding senior majoring in Psychology at ETSU. Full-time faculty in the Department of Psychology will select one recipient each spring. The recipient will receive $200 and his/her name will be engraved on a plaque located in the Department of Psychology office.
Students will be nominated by faculty members in the Department of Psychology.
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Dr. James S. Perry First Year Student in Psychology Award
This $500 endowed award was established by Dr. and Mrs. James S. Perry and is awarded annually to honor a first-year Psychology major who has shown exceptional promise in the psychology major.
Each spring, first-year Psychology majors who have demonstrated exceptional performance in two or more psychology courses, as well as exceptional academic achievement overall, will be contacted and asked to submit a statement of 500 words or less describing why they chose to major in psychology, what their career goals are, how a major in psychology is relevant to their career goals, and why they believe they are deserving of the award to the Perry Award committee. Committee members will select a recipient based on their performance in their psychology courses, on their overall academic performance, and on their personal statement.
Undergraduate Scholarships
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The Johnia Hope Berry Scholarship in Psychology Award
This endowed award is given to honor and commemorate the life of Johnia Hope Berry and the impact that she made on the betterment of community life through her thoughtfulness and immense compassion for the lives of children. One $500 award is given annually.
To be eligible for the award, students should be enrolled full-time and majoring in Psychology at ETSU with a concentration in Child Psychological Sciences. In the event of a lack of qualified applicants pursuing a psychology major with a concentration in child psychological sciences, the award committee will consider applications from students who have completed at least 12 hours of child-focused coursework and who have demonstrated interest in child psychology as expressed in their personal statement. Determination of the scholarship recipient will be based on, in addition to the criteria already described, the committee’s review of each applicant¹s cumulative grade point average, personal statement, and financial need.To apply for this award, submit a statement, not to exceed 300 words, that includes a description of any research experience you have had in the domain of child psychology, a description of any direct service experiences you have had with children, a description of your career goals related to child psychology, and a statement of financial need.
Applications are due April 1st and should be emailed to Dr. Wallace Dixon (dixonw@etsu.edu). Please note that eligible students applying for the Berry Award may also apply for the Tiller Award.
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The Tiller Family Scholarship in Psychology (in loving memory of Johnia Hope)
This endowed award was established by John and Donna Tiller in memory of Johnia Hope to provide assistance to deserving students pursuing a degree in Psychology at ETSU with an interest in the psychological development of children. One $500 award is given annually.
Eligibility for this award includes: 1) Junior or senior Psychology major at ETSU, 2) interest in the development of children, 3) overall GPA of 3.0 or better, 4) active involvement in community activities, and 5) demonstrated financial need.To apply for this award, submit a statement, not to exceed 300 words, that includes a description of any research experience you have had in the domain of child psychology, a description of any direct service experiences you have had with children, a description of your career goals related to child psychology, and a statement of financial need.
Applications are due April 1st and should be emailed to Dr. Wallace Dixon (dixonw@etsu.edu). Please note that eligible students applying for the Tiller Award may also apply for the Berry Award.
Graduate Awards and Grants
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Excellence in Research Award (One Masters Level, One PhD Level)
Applications are due March 1st.
To apply, graduate students in the Department of Psychology must submit a report of their research work in the form of an annotated CV in which projects are listed followed by a description of the student’s involvement and the dates when the projects were worked on. Students must have their faculty advisor sign the application prior to submission. Only research completed during time at ETSU will be considered in making award decisions.
Email your application as a single PDF to Dr. Jerry Deehan (deehan@etsu.edu).
Research production includes:
- Milestone projects passed with distinction
- Publications (in review, in press, and in print)
- Grants (applied and not funded, applied and funded)
- Conference presentations (including posters, papers, and symposiums)
- Awards won for conference presentations
- Additional research awards
- Current lines of research (including information on how the student is involved in the current projects – formation of original idea, design of study, completion of study, data analyses, etc.)
For PhD awards, materials can be listed that were done during Master’s work; however, only work spanning from Master’s to PhD or completed solely during PhD will be considered for PhD awards and those works should be highlighted in the application.
Students may not win the award more than once per level (they may win once at the Masters level and once at the PhD level). Students are also not eligible to apply after leaving the program.
Decision Process: One committee of four faculty members within the department (two clinical, two experimental) will select recipients of the excellence in research and service awards. Concentration of the student is not to be taken into account when granting the awards. A decision will be made by the committee by April 1st. Recipients will be emailed and informed they have won after the decision has been made. Awards will be presented at the Graduate School Award Ceremony in mid-April and at PsycFest at the end of the spring semester. The committee reserves the right to not grant the award if all applications received are not deemed fit for recognition. -
Excellence in Service Award (One Masters Level, One PhD Level)
Applications are due March 1st.
To apply, graduate students in the Department of Psychology must submit a report of their service work in the form of an annotated CV in which projects are listed followed by a description of the student’s involvement and the dates when the projects were worked on. Students must have their faculty advisor sign the application prior to submission. Only service completed during time at ETSU will be considered in making award decisions.
Email your application as a single PDF to Dr. Jerry Deehan (deehan@etsu.edu).
Service includes:
- Service to the Field
- Reviewing for journals or conferences
- Serving on committees or advisory boards for psychological organizations (local, regional, or national)
- Clinic work above and beyond expectations
- Invited talks (local, regional, or national)
- University Service
- Serving on committees or advisory boards on campus
- Giving invited talks on campus (including the medical school)
- Participation in the planning and production of university events
- Departmental Service
- Serving on committees or advisory boards in the department
- Presenting Brown Bags, including participation in Data Blitz
- Assisting in new student orientation and interview day
- Mentoring above and beyond GA expectation
- Community Service
Decision Process: One committee of four faculty members within the department (two clinical, two experimental) will select recipients of the excellence in research and service awards. Concentration of the student is not to be taken into account when granting the awards. A decision will be made by the committee by April 1st. Recipients will be emailed and informed they have won after the decision has been made. Awards will be presented at the Graduate School Award Ceremony in mid-April and at PsycFest at the end of the spring semester. The committee reserves the right to not grant the award if all applications received are not deemed fit for recognition.
- Service to the Field
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Department of Psychology Graduate Student Teaching Awards
Excellence in Teaching Award for Graduate Teaching Assistants:
This award recognizes excellence in teaching for graduate students in the Department of Psychology teaching lab courses (i.e., PSYC 3051 and/or 3061).Dr. Chris S. Dula Excellence in Teaching Award for Graduate Teaching Associates:
This award recognizes excellence in teaching for graduate students in the Department of Psychology teaching 3-credit hour courses in Psychology.Winners of the departmental awards will be forwarded to the Graduate School as the departmental nominees for the Graduate School Excellence in Teaching Awards.
Applications are due December 15 (to meet the Graduate School deadline of Feb. 1). Please email your application as a single PDF to Dr. Ginni Blackhart (blackhar@etsu.edu).
Applicants must submit a teaching portfolio that includes the following:
- A teaching statement written by the graduate student.
- A table listing all classes at ETSU, including dates (if you have college taught courses elsewhere, include these in the table as well).
- Evaluative feedback (e.g., SAI summaries, mid-semester feedback from students, faculty and student evaluations).
- Up to 5 letters of support from undergraduate students, fellow graduate students, and/or faculty members.
- Sample materials (e.g., syllabus, assignments, sample exams). Teaching Associates MUST include a syllabus, sample exams, and D2L site access (as required by the Graduate School).
These materials will allow the Teaching Awards Committee to adequately review applications. Your portfolio should be as brief as possible while including all of the necessary components. A profile that includes too many materials is difficult to judge by the committee members.
The Teaching Award Committee will review nominations and select a recipient for each award. Recipients will then submit their application to the Graduate School for consideration for their teaching awards by February 1st. This application must also include a letter of nomination from the Experimental Graduate Coordinator, cosigned by the Department Chair, describing the teaching responsibilities required of the nominee.
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Graduate Student Travel Grant
Fall applications (for travel between July 1 - December 31) are due October 1st.
Spring applications (for travel between January 1 - June 30) are due April 1st.
To apply, complete the required form, attach the required documents, and email your application as a single PDF to Dr. Jerry Deehan (deehan@etsu.edu)
The scoring sheet is objective and the Graduate Student Travel Grant Committee will establish up to 3 tiers of funding based on the objective scores. Funds will be distributed according to the tiers established by the committee and funds available in the Graduate Student Travel Grant account. Funding rates determined are based on the number of applicants and funds available each semester.
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Excellence in Equity and Inclusion Awards
Applications are due March 1st. To apply, graduate students in the Department of Psychology must submit a report of their equity and inclusion work in the form of an annotated CV in which projects or accomplishments are listed followed by a description of the student’s involvement and the timeline/dates. Students must have their faculty advisor sign the application prior to submission. Only equity and inclusion work completed during time at ETSU will be considered in making award decisions. Email your application to psycie@etsu.edu.
Equity and Inclusion Work includes: Any academic (i.e., teaching, research, service), campus, and/or community-engaged work with populations or topics that fit with the Department of Psychology’s broad definition of diversity: “including (but not limited to) race, ethnicity, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious orientation, religion, disability status, socioeconomic status, national origin, and the intersection of these multiple identities.”
Additionally, any graduate student activity that aligns with this mission of the Committee on Inclusion and Equity - to leverage the science and profession of psychology in service of promoting inclusion and equity in the department and beyond - should be highlighted in the graduate student’s application. One award will be given at the master's level and one award at the PhD level.
Note: For PhD awards, projects can be listed that were done during Master’s work; however, only work spanning from Master’s to PhD or completed solely during PhD will be considered for PhD awards and those works should be highlighted in the application. Students may win once at the Master’s level and once at the PhD level but not more than once per level. Students are also not eligible to apply after leaving the program.
A committee of four faculty members (two clinical, two experimental) part of the Committee on Inclusion and Equity within the department will select recipients of the excellence in equity and inclusion awards.
This award will include a monetary award as funds allow.