1999-2000 Guilford Award Winners
The chair of the Psi Chi/J. P. Guilford Undergraduate Research Awards Committee, Elizabeth Yost Hammer, PhD, has announced the winners of the 1999-2000 Guilford competition. The first-place winner is Lora E. Park of the University of Washington for her paper entitled "Implicit Indicators of Women's Persistence in Math, Science, and Engineering." The second-place winner is Emily C. Mull of Albion College for her paper entitled "The Effect of Victim Age and Relationship to Assailant on Attribution of Blame in Rape Cases." The third-place winner is Jennifer Leigh Harrison of Appalachian State University for her paper entitled "An Examination of Backward Priming and Nonword Facilitation in Post-Lexical Decision Making."

Lora E. Park, the first-place winner, graduated with College Honors from the University of Washington this spring (June 2000) with a bachelor of science degree in psychology. As an undergraduate, Lora was engaged in various research projects including "Greeks 2000," a longitudinal study on alcohol and the Greek system, as well as carrying her own studies using the Implicit Association Test (IAT), such as examining implicit individualism and collectivism among Asian and Caucasian students. Lora's honor thesis, under the supervision of Dr. Anthony G. Greenwald, focused on implicit associations and women's persistence in math, science, and engineering. Lora's research was funded by Mary Gates Research Training Grants, a University of Washington Undergraduate Education Grant, and a Psi Chi Undergraduate Research Grant. Lora also served as vice-president and president of the University of Washington Chapter of Psi Chi. In the fall, Lora will be attending the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor to obtain her PhD in social psychology and enter the world of academia. She plans to study how culture and the social context influence identity, cognition, and behavior.

The second-place winner, Emily C. Mull, is originally from Ann Arbor, Mich. She recently graduated magna cum laude from Albion College with departmental honors for psychology. Emily finished with a BA in psychology and visual arts and a minor in art history. In addition to being an officer in Psi Chi, she was also a member of Sigma Xi Research Society. Next year, she will be attending the University of Delaware in a PhD program specializing in social psychology. Her research interests include cross-cultural development and the role of ethnicity in social behavior.

Jennifer Leigh Harrison, the third-place winner, is an undergraduate junior at Appalachian State University, working on her BA as a double major in English and psychology. She is a committee member at the Women's Center at Appalachian State, where she writes articles and designs a monthly newsletter. Also an advocate and crisis line worker, Jennifer volunteers for OASIS (Opposing Abuse with Shelter, Information, and Service) of Boone and surrounding counties. An honors student in both majors, Jennifer has spent the past year conducting research on postlexical decision tasks with Professor Natalie A. Oransky, and is presently writing her honors psychology thesis on the different financial aspects of men and women. A member of Psi Chi, she has recently been elected as president of the chapter at Appalachian State for the upcoming 2000-2001 year. After graduation in May of 2001, Jennifer plans to pursue a doctorate in either clinical psychology or marriage and family.

1998-1999 Guilford Award Winners
The chair of the Psi Chi/J. P. Guilford Undergraduate Research Awards Committee, Dennis Carmody, PhD, has announced the winners of the 1998-1999 Guilford competition. The first-place winner is Jennifer E. Medina of the University of Florida for her paper entitled "Recall of Emotional Autobiographical Memories in Patients with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy." The second-place winner is Elizabeth J. Mulligan of Macalester College for her paper entitled "Does Negation Lead to Suppression of the Inference Process?" The third-place winner is Shea M. Di Donna of Dickinson College for her paper entitled "The Effects of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy on Exposure to the Ideal Female Body Image."

Jennifer E. Medina, the first-place winner, was graduated with a BS degree in psychology in May 1999 from the University of Florida. She received Highest Honors for her senior thesis entitled "Recall of Emotional Autobiographical Memories in Patients with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy." In addition to winning first place in the Psi Chi/J. P. Guilford Undergraduate Research Award Competition, her paper was also accepted to the American Epilepsy Society Conference this December. Currently she is a research assistant in the Psychosocial Oncology Department at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla., and plans to apply to graduate school in clinical psychology.

The second-place winner, Elizabeth Mulligan, was graduated in May from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn., with a BA in psychology and a core concentration in cognitive science. She is currently enrolled in a PhD program in cognitive psychology at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she plans to pursue research in judgment and decision-making. While at Macalester, She worked as a research assistant to R. Brooke Lea, PhD, and Kathleen Harder, PhD, and was the cochair of Macalester's Psi Chi chapter for 1998-99. She was also coleader for Junior/Cadette Girl Scout Troop 1947. Her hobbies include running, swimming, and making things with construction paper.

Shea M. Di Donna, the third-place winner, conducted her honors research project during the 1998-99 academic year with Christopher Silva, assistant professor of psychology, serving as his research director/supervisor. Her research involved two components: factors that affect women's body image and body esteem, and the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy to ameliorate or inoculate against negative body image and body esteem.
   Shea conducted her undergraduate research at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Penn. She was graduated magna cum laude from Dickinson as a double major in English and psychology with departmental honors in psychology. She is a member of Psi Chi and Phi Beta Kappa, an academic honor society. Currently, Shea resides in Staten Island, N.Y., with her husband of three years, artist John Anthony Di Donna. She is employed by Banc of America Securities in Manhattan as the visitor assistant/conference room coordinator. Her future plans include an independent psychology research project on human interaction and a few years of full-time employment, followed by pursuit of a clinical PhD in psychology.

Michael B. Thompson, the first-place winner, is a psychology/biology major from Louisville, Kentucky. His winning research project was conducted as part of his senior honors thesis at the University of Kentucky, with Dr. Richard Milich serving as his research advisor. Michael was graduated magna cum laude with a BS in psychology and is currently completing his biology degree.
   During the 1997–98 school year, Michael served as president of his school’s Psi Chi chapter. Some of his accomplishments included establishing a formal year-end induction ceremony, starting a Psi Chi Web page, and winning a psychology trivia competition against other Kentucky colleges.
   Michael is currently working as a laboratory technician at the University of Kentucky Center on Aging. This research focuses on countering the effects of Alzheimer’s and brain trauma. Michael volunteers each week in the emergency room and is also currently seeking admission to medical school for next fall. He enjoyed his undergraduate research experience and strongly encourages all psychology students to become involved with research.

The second-place winner, Aimee C. Knupsky, is from Grove City, Penn., and was graduated on May 10, 1998, with a BA in both psychology and Spanish from Muskingum College, located in New Concord, Ohio. Dr. Darlene DeMarie-Dreblow was Aimee’s research advisor for her award-winning paper. Aimee is now enrolled in the cognitive psychology program at the University of New Mexico, where she plans to continue her research interests in the language field.

Natalie C. Blevins, the third-place winner, was graduated in May 1998 magna cum laude from the University of Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Her award-winning paper is a condensed version of her senior honors thesis. Dr. Christopher Peterson served as her research mentor for this paper.
   Natalie felt right at home as a student at the University of Michigan and took full advantage of the opportunities provided by such a reputable institution. As an undergraduate, Natalie was involved with numerous research projects focusing on domestic violence, adolescent substance abuse, and the psychological ramifications of traumatic injury. She was not only a member of Psi Chi, but served as chapter president for a year. Some of her greatest accomplishments include being awarded the 1998 Department of Psychology Pillsbury Prize for the Most Distinguished Undergraduate Research Dissertation, and having a paper published in Peers and Preventions, a journal of undergraduate research.
   Natalie is currently working for the university’s psychology department as a grad-uate student instructor, teaching introductory psychology. She is applying to graduate schools this fall and hopes to enter a clinical program next year to earn her PhD and pursue her research interests in child and adolescent psychopathology.

1996-1997 Guilford Award Winners
The chair of the Psi Chi/J. P. Guilford Undergraduate Research Awards Committee, Jesse Purdy, PhD, has announced the winners of the 1996-1997 Guilford competition. The first-place winner is Angela J. Ruhl of Kutztown University for her paper entitled "The Mood Congruence Effect With Perceptual Versus Conceptual Tests of Implicit Memory." The second-place winner is Susan N. LaVelle of the University of Kentucky for her paper entitled "The Effects of Various Malingering Strategies on the MMPI-2 Clinical and Validity Scales." The third-place winner is Julie B. Kaplow of the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor for her paper entitled "Parental Loss in the Formative Years: The Relationship Between Religion and Coping."

Angela J. Ruhl, the First-place winner, was graduated from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania in May 1997. She is from the Kutztown area and chose to go to school at Kutztown University primarily based on its close proximity to her home. Ms. Ruhl is currently enrolled in the master's program in psychopathology.
   Outside of school, Ms. Ruhl enjoys reading, gardening flowers, singing, dancing, and exercising. Besides being a member of Psi Chi, Ms. Ruhl also served as treasurer of the Psychology Club at Kutztown University, where she received the Gill-Sharp-Lauer Award, which is presented to the psychology student with the best GPA who is going on to graduate school.

The second-place winner, Susan N. LaVelle, was graduated
summa cum laude, with departmental honors, from the University
of Kentucky in May 1997. She entered the clinical doctoral
program at Xavier University this fall.

Julie B. Kaplow, the third-place winner, is from Farmington Hills, Mich. She was graduated in May 1997 from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, where she received class honors for four years and was a James B. Angell Scholar (maintaining a 4.0 GPA for at least two consecutive terms). Besides her membership in Psi Chi, she is also a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, and Golden Key. Ms. Kaplow is currently enrolled in the doctoral program in child clinical psychology at Duke University.
   Ms. Kaplow's interests in clinical psychology began while working as a teaching assistant and a camp counselor for preschool children in a number of different settings. Ms. Kaplow says that there is nothing more that she enjoys than watching children grow and learn, and feeling as though she had an impact on someone else's life. Ms. Kaplow's eagerness to pursue a career in clinical psychology was also stimulated by working with outstanding faculty at the University of Michigan on a number of different research projects. Through these experiences, she has been able to fully recognize her passion and enthusiasm for the field of psychology. Consequently, she hopes to specialize in child clinical psychology and eventually obtain a position as a practicing psychologist and researcher. Ms. Kaplow says she cannot imagine a more exhilarating feeling than to design and implement her own research study and apply the findings to children in need.
   In her spare time, Ms. Kaplow likes to attend the theatre with friends, go rollerblading, and take long walks. She also enjoys movies, reading novels, and writing poetry.