Student Awards

The purpose of this award is to honor a graduate student who has made outstanding service or clinical contributions targeted at psychological issues of importance among ethnic minorities. Candidates whose goals and professional development are consistent with a career involving service in the area of ethnic minority psychology will be given preference for this award. The award will be presented during the APA Convention. Awardees are presented with an engraved plaque and an honorarium.

Recipients:

• Annel Cordero (2009)
• Bryana French (2010)
• Dianna Gonzalez (2011)
• Jamey Rislin (2016)
• Black Lives Matter (2017)
  • Oona Appel
  • Anastasia Gorden
  • Keri Kirk
  • Luciano Lima
  • Jamey Rislin
  • Bryn Spielvogel
  • Celina Whitmore
  • Macy Wilson
• Rita Rivera (2022)
• Pooja Mamidanna (2023)
• Stephanie Chin (2023)

Awardees are presented with an engraved plaque and an honorarium at the Division 45 Award Ceremony during the APA Convention.

Service contributions may include:

• Development of creative educational programs or other novel activities in the advancement of psychological service to, or the psychological study of, ethnic minorities
• Efforts to increase funding for agencies providing psychological service to ethnic minorities, or psychological research on ethnic minority issues
• Efforts related to legislation affecting psychological issues of importance to ethnic minorities
• Involvement in policy issues that enhance the psychological services available to, or the psychological inquiry involving, ethnic minorities
• Initiating programs that target the psychological needs of ethnic minorities, or substantive involvement in the development, evaluation, implementation, or improvement of said programs (e.g., counseling and support groups)

Eligibility requirements:

Nominees must be matriculated graduate students (including pre-doctoral interns), and must be student affiliates of Division 45 at the time that their nomination materials are submitted.

Submission requirements:

Self-nominations are accepted.  A completed nomination should include each of the following components.

1. Write a letter of nomination describing the nominee’s achievements; include letter in packet
2. Include copy of nominee’s CV
3. A letter from the chair of the dissertation committee and/or training director indicating the student’s good standing in the program
4.  Provide contact information (postal mailing address & email address) for both the nominee and the nominator

For all Awards, a PDF file consisting of all required supportive materials must be emailed to Division 45 Division Manager, David DeVito at david@amcsource.com by April 15, 2026 (11:59 p.m. PST).

The purpose of this award is to recognize outstanding psychological research on ethnic minority issues conducted primarily by a graduate student, including – but not limited to — dissertation research. Candidates whose goals and professional development are consistent with a career involving the psychological study of ethnic minority issues will be given preference for this award. The award will be presented at the Division 45 Award Ceremony during the APA Convention. Awardees are presented with an engraved plaque and an honorarium.

Recipients:

• Kristine Molina (2009)
• Rachel Ishikawa (2010)
• Kimberly Langrehr (2011)
• Chelsea Derlan (2016)
• Marisa G. Franco (2017)
• Terrill Taylor (2022)
• Jasmine Brooks Stephens (2023)
• Aldo Barrita (2023)

Awardees are presented with an engraved plaque and an honorarium at the Division 45 Award Ceremony during the APA Convention.

Eligibility requirements:

Nominees must be matriculated graduate students (including pre-doctoral interns), and must be student affiliates of Division 45 at the time that their nomination materials are submitted.

Submission requirements:

Self-nominations are accepted.  A completed nomination should include each of the following components.

1. Write a letter of nomination describing the nominee’s achievements; include letter in packet
2. Include copy of nominee’s CV
3. A letter from the chair of the dissertation committee and/or training director indicating the student’s good standing in the program
4.  Provide contact information (postal mailing address & email address) for both the nominee and the nominator

For all Awards, a PDF file consisting of all required supportive materials must be emailed to Division 45 Division Manager, David DeVito at david@amcsource.com by April 15, 2026 (11:59 p.m. PST).

What are the APA Division 45 Student Travel Awards?

Scholarships will be awarded to assist with registration and lodging to students who are presenting a Division 45 sponsored event (Symposia, Critical Conversation, and/or Poster session) at the APA Convention. Only students who meet this criteria will receive an award application.

These scholarships are intended to increase Division 45 student member participation at the APA Convention.

What is the Barbara Smith & Jewell E. Horvat Graduate Student Award for Research with Queer Individuals of Color

This award is named after the American lesbian feminist and socialist, Barbara Smith, and made possible by a generous award from the Horvat family. This award carries a $500 monetary award and a plaque to be presented during the APA Annual Convention.

The deadline for the 2025 Awards is April 15, 2026 (11:59 PST).

Who is Eligible?

This award is intended for individuals who are 10 years or less post-doctorate at the time an application is submitted. It aims to recognize an individual who is a graduate student at the time of application for this award, and who have conducted research on psychological matters among individuals who identify as members of both, a sexual minority as well as a racial/ethnic minority group.

How to Apply?

Self-nominations are accepted. A completed nomination should include each of the following components:

1. Write a letter of nomination describing the nominee’s achievements; include letter in packet,
2. Two letters of support are required in addition to the nomination letter,
3. Include copy of nominee’s CV,
4. A letter from the chair of the dissertation committee and/or training director indicating the student’s good standing in the program, and
5. Provide contact information (postal mailing address and email address) for both the nominee and the nominator.

The Joseph E. Trimble and Jewell Horvat award was created to honor significant contributions to Native and Indigenous psychology and making psychology responsive and relevant to the needs of Native and Indigenous communities. Candidates for this award should demonstrate significant contributions to Native and Indigenous psychology.

Two awards will be given.

• One award will be given to a promising graduate student who has demonstrated a commitment to achieving an admirable balance between community development and potential leadership in the field of psychology.
• The other award will be given to a senior level contributor to the field of Native and Indigenous psychology who inspired their former students to create benefits for indigenous communities through their scholarship, practices, and leadership. Small stipends accompany the awards.

Recipients:

• Melissa Wheeler (2017)
• Amanda Young (2018)
• Jillian Fish (2019)
• Melissa Wheeler (2020)
• Jalene Herron (2023)

Awards Nomination Process

The Division 45 Member Awards nomination process includes the following:

1. Write a letter of nomination describing the nominee’s achievements; include letter in packet
2. Two letters of support are required in addition to the nomination letter
3. Include copy of nominee’s CV
4. Provide contact information (postal mailing address & email address) for both the nominee and the nominator

Awards Requirements

All nominees must be members of APA and Division 45. Nominees can join APA and the Division before the nomination date.

Awards Submission

For all Awards, an electronic PDF file consisting of all required supportive materials must be emailed to Division 45 Division Manager, David DeVito at david@amcsource.com by April 15, 2026 (11:59 p.m. PST).