APA/APAGS Award for Distinguished Graduate Student In Professional Psychology

The Board of Professional Affairs decided to pause these awards for 2025. APA is reviewing all of its awards and pending the outcome of that review, BPA will make a decision regarding continuing these specific awards. If these awards are resumed in 2026, deadline information will be posted accordingly.

The Award for Distinguished Graduate Student in Professional Psychology is awarded on an annual basis by the Board of Professional Affairs (BPA) and the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS) to a graduate student who has demonstrated outstanding practice and application of psychology.

Awardees receive an honorarium of $1,000 and have the opportunity to participate in a formal presentation of this award during a virtual Awards Ceremony later this year. They may also submit a short video describing their research or other contributions to a broad audience for use on the APA website.

A qualified candidate must demonstrate exemplary performance in working with an underserved population in an applied setting OR have developed an innovative method for delivering health services to an underserved population. Eligible candidates are encouraged to apply from all psychology sub-specialties (e.g., clinical, counseling, organization, school, health, etc) and can be self-nominated or nominated by a member of the American Psychological Association (APA). However, all self-nominations must be endorsed by a member of APA (i.e., faculty, supervisor) who serves the function of a nominator.

All nominees must have excellent overall personal and professional reputations. Nominees should not have received disciplinary action from a state board of examiners in psychology and must have no history of ethical violations at the state or national level.

2025

Andy U. Torres Roa

2024

Shawntell Nicole Pace
Sarah Cécile Leighton, MS

2023

Sergio Dominguez

2022

Pearis L. Bellamy, MS

2020

Ana F. El-Behadli, MA

2019

K. Chinwe Idigo, MS

2018

Victoria M. O'Keefe, PhD
Raymond P. Tucker, PhD

2017

Octavio A. Santos

2016

Luz M. Garcini

2015

Adam M. Reid, MS

2014

Rebeccah A. Bernard, MA, MS
Allie Abrahamson, MS

2013

E. Lorena Navarro, MA

2012 

Melissa L. Anderson

2011

Jordan Braciszewski, PhD

2010

Will Q. Hua

2009

Julie E Braciszewski

2008 

Maryam M. Jernigan

2007

Gabriela Livas Stein

2006

Mona M. Amer

2005

Renee E. Derouin

2004

Tonia L. Nicholls

2003

Nnamdi Pole

2002

Anne S. Labowitz