Senior Distinguished Service Award

This award recognizes seniors who reflect commitment to the field of psychology through their service activities.

2009 Award Recipients

Stephanie Tigue - Stephanie Tigue is an inspiration to others and she is rarely seen without a smile. Her record of service is impressive. Through coursework, Stephanie has worked for two semesters as a research assistant to the Virginia Child Protection Newsletter, coordinating the interviews and information-gathering for the issue on children of incarcerated parents. She has served as a Peer Advisor since 2007 and is a Training Liaison this year. She has served as a teaching assistant for Dr. Barron and has been a peer mentor for the Psychology Learning Community. She has worked at the JMU Women’s Resource Center as part of our Child Abuse and Neglect course. Stephanie completed a 150-hour field placement at Turner Ashby High School Guidance Office in the fall of 2008. She also interned at the JMU Counseling and Student Development Center, presenting campus-wide workshops on coping with change, self-esteem, and destructive relationships. Outside of coursework, Stephanie has served the Psychology Department by being our representative for the Dean of CISAT College Student Advisory Council. She has also participated I CHOICES Open House, representing the Psychology Department on the student panel every year from 2005 to present. Stephanie has been very active outside the Psychology Department as well. She was a FROG (First Year Orientation Guide), providing assistance to incoming freshman. She worked with the JMU Orientation Program as an Orientation Peer Advisor. She participated in alternative spring break in 2007, working in North Carolina with mentally disabled adults and children in a rehabilitation facility. She is also a member of Campus Assault ResponsE (CARE), helping raise awareness about sexual assault prevention. Stephanie has helped raise money for the American Cancer Society and for Peer Advising “Food Fight Against Hunger.” She has participated in the Special Olympics “Day with the Dukes.” Last year, Stephanie was awarded the James J. Hart Memorial Award for Outstanding Juniors. She is a member of Psi Chi, the Psychology Honorary, and was elected to the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She received the Myra Doherty Memorial Scholarship for three years. Following her field placement interests, Stephanie has applied to School Counseling graduate programs for next year.
Jackee Webster - Jackee Webster truly embodies the spirit of service. Her involvement in service to the Psychology Department and to the community spans her entire JMU experience. Jackee served as a peer mentor for the Learning Community. She has been a tutor for an at-risk child through the Child Abuse and Neglect class. She did a placement with the Healthy Families Program in Page County, assisting by tutoring a single mother who was working on her GED. Jackee has worked for two semesters as a research assistant for the Virginia Child Protection Newsletter. She has also recently served as a member of the search committee for a Developmental Psychologist position. Jackee completed a field placement at Mercy House. Not only did she improve the physical facility, but she brought friends to assist with weekly dinners and activities. She redesigned the children’s volunteer program and encouraged teens to attend the after-school tutoring sessions. Students in psychology field placements normally complete 150 on-site hours, but Jackee increased that number by nearly twenty-five percent. Outside of the Psychology Department, Jackee has made significant contributions by completing a practicum with Disability Services. She volunteered at a migrant education program, helped at the Association for Retarded Citizens, and served as a Big Sister through the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. As a member of the service group Gamma Sigma Sigma, Jackee held three elected offices Parliamentarian, Historian, and Recording Secretary. Jackee is a prior recipient of the LeAnn Whitlock Memorial Scholarship and the William King Charity Scholarship. After graduation, Jackee will enter the Teach for America program, continuing her tradition of service. Her long-term goal is to attend graduate school in either social work or school psychology.

Past Award Recipients

2008

Mary Brittany Fox - Mary has been very active in service learning and in service to the department. She has completed an independent study at the Counseling and Student Development Center under the supervision of Prof. Kara Karr. She presented three workshops (Assertiveness; Dealing with Difficult People; and Stress Management) a total of 12 times for the wellness passport and certificate programs. Mary did a field placement at the JMU Counseling and Psychological Services and Interprofessional Services for Learning Assessment clinics in Blue Ridge Hall. Her dedication was such that she enrolled for a second semester with the clinics. Mary has served in other capacities as well. She tutored a child twice a week through the JMU Psychology of Child Abuse course; helped with the Peer Advising Food fight; has been active in Psychology Club and Psi Chi; was a member of the Psychology Learning Community; and worked 35 hours at the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community for an independent study, Art for Memory Enhancement.

Kimberly Fuhrmeister - Kim has a variety of service learning experiences as well as service to the Psychology Department. She completed a Field Placement at Western State Hospital on the extended care unit. She has also completed an internship at the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office and another at the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice. In addition to the three field work experiences, Kim has volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club and as a tutor for ESL students. She is a member of Psi Chi and has attended numerous conferences and trainings. She is currently a teaching assistant for Dr. Bryan Saville and is completing an independent study experience with Dr. Kevin Apple.

Katalin Gardner - Katalin has an extensive involvement in service learning and service to the Psychology department. She completed a capstone field placement at Western State and has continued for another full 4-credit extension. She was recently accepted to do a presentation at the Virginia Psychological Association Spring meeting about her work with the group she leads at Western State (Managing Hallucinations and Delusions). Katalin has completed an independent study with Celeste Thomas at the JMU Counseling and Student Development Center. She has tutored at-risk children a full year through the JMU Psychology of Child Abuse course, and independent study options. She has volunteered at the ARC Canteen. She has led groups for ShenValley Care (a group for persons affected by Asperger’s Syndrome). She has attended functions for children with disabilities and has volunteered with deaf clients. Since freshman year, Katalin has held a position with Winchester Behavioral Health Services, working in both the inpatient and outpatient programs. She has worked as a behavioral specialist for the mental health support program at Crossroads Counseling Center and as an aide for persons with Alzheimer’s.
Emily Kibler - Emily has worked with Dr. Steve Evans’ Challenging Horizons research group for two years, providing intervention and treatment plans for students and working closely with students, families and teachers. She has served as A Psychology Peer Advisor for two years, becoming heavily involved in their service projects with Relay for Life, the Food Fight against Hunger, the Psychology Career Fair, and the Special Olympics “Day with the Dukes.” Emily worked in the counseling department at Turner Ashby High School for her Field Placement class, and she is continuing this work this semester as an independent study experience. She has served as a Teaching Assistant with Dr. Bill Evans for the new Career Development course. Emily is a member of Psi Chi, and serves as the Psi Chi Secretary this year. She was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi in 2007, and was a recipient of the psychology department’s outstanding achievement in statistics and research award for 2007. Emily has been on the President’s List since spring of 2005. She plans to attend graduate school in school counseling, and become a school counselor at the middle or high school level.
Charley Martin - Charley is currently a member of Dr. Kahn’s research group on the effects of gender of victim and assailant on perceptions of rape and victim blame. She is also the student member of the mega faculty search committee for this academic year. This semester, Charley is completing a field placement at the Office of Children and Youth. She has been involved in various service and volunteer work in the local community, including tutoring children at Keister Elementary School, working with Special Education students at Spotswood Elementary School, and volunteering with the Boys and Girls Club. Charley is a member of Psi Chi, the Golden Key International Honors Society, and the National Society for Collegiate Scholars. She was the recipient of the Outstanding Achievement in Statistics and Research Methods Award in 2007.

2007

Laura Dageforde is completing a second major in Spanish. She is completing her Honors Thesis under the supervision of Dr. Bryan Saville. Laura is a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Psi Chi, Phi Kappa Phi and Psychology Peer Advising, where she serves as Chair of the Projects Committee. Laura has been helping to create a new career development course for the Psychology Department. She has volunteered at the Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents, with the Alzheimer’s Unit at Sunnyside Nursing Home, as a leader of the Amistad program for Hispanic students at Thomas Harrison Middle School, and has completed an Alternative Spring Break adventure to Redwood, California to assist with environmental preservation. With Peer Advising, she has raised money to combat hunger through the annual Food Fight against Hunger, and to fund cancer research through Relay for Life. Laura also plans to complete her Nursing degree and her career aspirations include becoming a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner for children and adolescents.
Monique Hall was the recipient of the LeAnn Whitlock Award in 2006. She has developed expertise in working with persons with serious mental illness through volunteer work at Crossing Creeks and through a field placement with Summit House. She has participated in research with Dr. Ashton Trice and was a tutor for abnormal psychology with Dr. JoAnne Brewster.
Cassandra McCarty is graduating with minors in Spanish, Latin-American Studies and Sign Language. She is working on a research project with Dr. Craig Abrahamson obtaining oral histories of homeless people in Harrisonburg.She has served the local community by working in various soup kitchens, actively participating with Hispanic youth through Spanish ministries and JMU’s AMISTAD programk and has been involved with the JMU chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for the past three years. She has taken her service abroad to Latin American countries where she has helped in construction work, children and college ministries, and served in overseas “sopistas” (soup kitchens). Her goals include moving to South America and ultimately working with the indigenous people of either the Andean or Amazonian region.
Jennifer Polasek is applying to the Peace Corps. This choice compliments many years of service work. At JMU Jen has devoted several semesters to working at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (VMRC) with elderly residents with dementia. She has learned pioneering techniques to help this population stay connected to memories. Her skill is such that VMRC invited her to do her honors thesis testing the effectiveness of some of the new Snoezelen techniques. Jenifer is also a peer advisor. She serves in a leadership role for Relay for Life. She helped with Food Fight events and the Psychology Major job fair. She is a member of Psi Chi.

2006

Kathtryn Aufderhaar – is a senior Psyc major who is hoping to attend Law School next year. She is a Psychology Peer advisor who has served as that group’s Statistical Coordinator and Fundraising Chair. For her filed placement she has completed an internship in the City of Harrisonburg ’s Victim-Witness Program and she also has completed directed research and independent study projects with Drs. Evans, Kahn, Reis-Bergan, Serdikoff, Trice, & Mark Warner. She was one of the Dept’s Hart award winner last year and has served as a Dept representative to the Dean’s Advisory Council. Outside of Psychology she has served as the Vice-President and the head of various committees for the Jmu chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, has helped with fundraising for the American Cancer Society’s relay for Life and the Jmu Books for Africa Project.
Angela Fusco – currently is the Vice-President of the JMU chapter of Psi Chi and the Treasurer of Omicron Delta kappa, a National Leadership honors Society. She has volunteered as a camp counselor at Camp Dragonfly (a grief camp for children and youth), volunteers with big Brothers and Big Sisters and, serves as a REACH (Reality Educator Advocating Campus Health) peer educator. She also has served as a FrOG (Freshman Orientation Guide), participated in The Duke is Right campaign, facilitated alcohol awareness campaigns on campus, and helped with World AIDS day, the Great American Smokeout, and the junior class efforts to raise money for St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital . Angela intends to attend graduate school and earn a degree in counseling.
Samantha Mack – has volunteered with the Sunnyside Retirement Home: Adopt-A-Grandparent program and at the Pleasant Valley Elementary School . At JMU she has served as a Shift and Helpline Shift & Helpline Coordinator for Campus Assualt RepsonsE (the JMU Sexual Assault Helpline), as Alpha Sigma Tau’s Assistant Philanthropy Chair, helping to plan group's AIDS Awareness Week and AIDS 5K Run/Walk and as a volunteer for the Acting OutReach Program. She also has served as a tutor for Psyc 335 (Brewster) and as a teaching assistant Psyc 211(Apple/Reis-Bergan).

Lauren McChesney - excels in leadership and has held many leadership roles while at JMU. She is an active Peer Advisor and was a Freshman Orientation Guide, helping fellow students in both these roles. She has served as a student assistant for the JMU Counseling and Student Development Center , giving workshops throughout campus. She has helped coordinate larger university events, such as Relay for Life. Lauren also completed a capstone field placement at a local high school. In this position she facilitated workshops for students suspended for anger control problems and created activities for engaging at-risk students. Lauren is professionally active and has attended workshops and conferences. She is a young professional with great potential to continue her traditions of service and leadership.

2005

C. Stacey Armstrong - Stacey has been a tutor in statistics for the Math Department, volunteered for the LEAD program, organized a Relay for Life campaign for her residence hall, volunteered for the MILLER program, helped organize first-year orientation, and went back to her high school as a PRIDE representative to recruit prospective JMU students. She is completing an honors thesis.
Jessica Begley – Jessica is a Peer Advisor, Student Ambassador, and member of the Relay for Life Executive Board. She is also a trained member of Campus Assault Response (CARE), an Outrigger Peer Educator and a Eucharistic Minister for Catholic Campus Ministries at JMU. Jess has taken two independent study courses, assisting Dr. Bill Evans in studying the feasibility of an interdisciplinary leadership studies minor and creating potential courses for this minor. She also participated in an I/O Field Placement at Camp Horizons and is a Gold member of Psi Chi.
Allison Harris – Allison is a psychology major, sociology minor, and former recipient of the Psychology Department Outstanding Achievement in Statistics & Research Methods Award. She is the President of the JMU chapter of Psi Chi, and served as a member of the Psychology Advisory. She has worked as an intern for the Counseling and Student Development Center, where she gave numerous presentations as part of the Wellness Passport program, and as an undergraduate Teaching Assistant in Research Methods with Dr. Sherry Serdikoff. She completed a field placement at the Harrisonburg Department of Rehabilitative Services. Outside of JMU, Allison has completed an internship with the Chesterfield Department of Rehabilitative Services, served as a volunteer for Rockingham Memorial Hospital Rehabilitative Services, where she worked at the Wellness Pavilion, and served as a volunteer at the Bridgewater Retirement Community.
Amy Hess – Amy is a psychology major with a minor in family studies. She is currently the Secretary of the JMU chapter of Psi Chi, and has served as a member of the Psychology Advisory Committee since the Fall 2003. In addition to being active in Psi Chi, Amy is also a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the JMU Psychology Club. She has worked with Dr. Ashton Trice, examining children’s’ perceptions of lying. She also completed a field placement and directed study at Children’s Services of Virginia, and worked at the University of North Carolina Franklin Porter Graham Child Development Institution . In 2002, she completed 50 hours in the MS Walk and in 2004, she was a volunteer with Generations Crossing.
Kimberly Masters - Kimberly is a peer adviser and one of the organizers of the "Food Fight." Kim has worked closely as a mentor to teenagers through various church groups, been involved with AIDS awareness week, adopt-a-grandparent at Sunnyside Retirement Community, adopt-a-highway cleanup, Harrisonburg's children's museum, and Light the Night Walk for Leukemia. She is a member of Psi Chi and she is completing an honors thesis.
Stacey Miller – Stacey has provided art therapy to VMRC residents, worked on the Virginia Association of Play Therapy newsletter, mentored at Elkton Elementary School , and is currently doing a field placement at the Human Development Center . She cleaned national parks in North Carolina as part of an alternative spring break, raised money for the Alph Phi Foundation, volunteered at the White Birch retirement center and for Special Olympics, and served on the executive board of Hillel for three years. She is a member of Psi Chi and Psychology Club.
Joshua Tarr – Josh is the Student Coordinator of Peer Advising and the recipient of the Junior Peer Advising Award in 2004. As Coordinator, he led Peer Advising to organize the first ever JMU-Harrisonburg Food Fight against world hunger. Josh has assisted Dr. Bill Evans and Dr. Mark Warner in researching the feasibility of an interdisciplinary leadership studies minor for JMU, as well as researching leadership topics in support of a book project by Drs. Evans and Warner. Josh is also a Coaching minor, and has been a volunteer Assistant Basketball Coach for Harrisonburg High School for the past two years. Additionally, he mentors a 2nd grader at Spotswood Elementary School , serves as Vice-President of JMU’s honorary leadership society - Omicron Delta Kappa, and was a finalist for Mr. Madison in 2004.
Tricia Verno – Tricia has completed an internship with Kara Karr in the JMU Counseling Center . She is the community service coordinator for Peer Advising. She completed a field placement at Rockingham Memorial Hospital Partial Hospitalization. Currently she is helping Dr. Joann Grayson with a study on Civil Commitment. She worked as a summer assistant at the Medical College of Virginia Psychiatric Units. She has been a volunteer at Safe Harbor Shelter in Richmond , and the Crisis Pregnancy Center . Tricia also works with Campus Crusade for Christ, serves as a Bible study leader, and has participated in Spring Break mission trips. At Covenant Presbyterian Church, she volunteered for three years as a nursery attendant. She has led a weekend retreat for middle school girls for Second Baptist Church in Richmond , among other church-related service. Tricia plans to attend seminary or a counseling program to become a Christian counselor.
Christine Yip – Christine is a Peer Advisor, serving as Training Liaison co-teaching the Junior Peer Advisors with Dr. Bill Evans. She is the President of JMU’s chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and is an Orientation Program Assistant. Christine served on the Search Committee for the Gpsyc 160, Life Span Human Development position, and worked with Kara Karr in the Counseling and Student Development Center to create workshops on assertiveness, intimacy in relationships, and alcohol awareness. She is a Silver member of Psi Chi.

Past Award Recipients

2004

Mary Iampietro
Carrie Reynolds
Katie Welborn
Alexis Zankman

2003

Jessica Peed
Amanda Sawetz-Glasener

2002

Alisha Burrington
Allyson Connell
Brianna Kirtley
Heather Navien
Stephen Quaye
Rachel Ralston

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Senior Distinguished Service Award

2009 Award Recipients

Past Award Recipients