Student Achievement Awards – 2020 Awardees
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (SCCAP)/APA Division 53, we are delighted to announce the winners for the 2020 Student Achievement Awards! This year, we received a high volume of extremely competitive applications. While this made it difficult to select winners, it showcased the amazing work that many SCCAP students are doing.
The Student Achievement Award in Research recognizes students who have made a significant contribution to the field of clinical child and adolescent psychology through a research, teaching, mentoring, and community engagement. The winners are:
Undergraduate Award Winner – Katherine Venturo-Conerly
Katherine Venturo-Conerly received her undergraduate degree in psychology from Harvard University. Katherine is a rising scholar in youth mental health services research in low-resource settings. As an undergraduate, Katherine designed and led several randomized controlled trials testing brief interventions for Kenyan adolescents, and worked as an integral research assistant in Dr. John Weisz’s Lab for Youth Mental Health, where she will begin her PhD program in the fall. Katherine’s outstanding efforts have resulted in over 15 grants and 9 published peer-reviewed publications. In addition to her impressive research performance, Katherine was involved in teaching and numerous campus leadership positions at Harvard. Congratulations to Katherine on all of her accomplishments!
Early Stage Graduate Award Winner – Violeta Rodriguez
Violeta Rodriguez is a 3rd year doctoral student under the mentorship of Dr. Anne Shaffer at University of Georgia. Violeta’s work primarily focuses on improving the measurement and assessment of parent psychopathology in ethnically and racially diverse youth and families. As a recipient of the Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship and numerous other accolading awards, she demonstrates a commitment to advancing clinical science, having over 60 peer-reviewed publications and dozens of presentations. In addition to her extensive research experience, Violeta has supplemented her training with teaching and clinical opportunities. Congratulations to Violeta on all of her accomplishments!
Late Stage Graduate Award Winner – Bridget Makol
Bridget Makol is a 4th year doctoral student under the mentorship of Dr. Andres De Los Reyes at University of Maryland, College Park. Bridget’s doctoral work has focused on examining the clinical utility of multi-informant reports in settings such as schools, psychiatric inpatient units, and foster care. As a graduate student, Bridget has earned numerous accolades and has consistently published in high-impact journals. In addition to her own exceptionalism in research, Bridget has also demonstrated excellence in teaching and mentoring students from underrepresented backgrounds, earning the University of Maryland’s Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award. Congratulations to Bridget on all of her accomplishments!
Late Stage Graduate Award Winner – Will Pelham
Will Pelham is a 6th year doctoral student who studied under Dr. Thomas Dishion at Arizona State University. Will has committed his graduate research to the field of clinical child and adolescent psychology, focusing on externalizing psychopathology among youth such as aggression, defiance, impulsivity, and substance use. As the recipient of a prestigious Ruth L. Kirschstein National Service Research Award from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and numerous other accolades, as well as a prolific publication record in high-impact journals, Will demonstrates exceptionalism in clinical science. Congratulations to Will on all of his accomplishments!
Clinical Award Winner – Lea Taylor
Lea Taylor is a 5th year doctoral student under the mentorship of Dr. Kevin Antshel at Syracuse University. Lea has extensive experience in assessment and delivering evidence-based treatment to children, adolescents, and adults in residential, outpatient, and integrated care settings. As an exemplary student, Lea provides peer supervision and has also first-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and presentations. In addition to her exceptional clinical work and commitment to evidence-based practice, Lea has been active within her program, from mentoring underrepresented students to spearheading a student committee on diversity and inclusion. Congratulations to Lea on all of her accomplishments!
Please join us in congratulating these amazing students for their accomplishments and achievements!