Psychology Undergraduate & Graduate Awards

This award is given to a student with an exceptional academic record as demonstrated with G.P.A. of 3.5 or higher and high service to the Psychology Department such as through the honors society Psi Chi or participating as a Peer Educator through one of the university’s psycho-educational programs. This is an undergraduate student who shows extremely high potential as a graduate student through these accomplishments. Named in honor of Judge Julian Beck, who was an early advocate for a State University in the San Fernando Valley and a long-time supporter of San Fernando Valley State/CSUN.

This award is given to a student who has shown exceptional scholarship and some service to the Department of Psychology. Scholarship includes involvement of research and presentation of the work through professional conferences or publication. Service includes activities such as involvement working with Psi Chi honors society or participating as a Peer Educator through one of the university’s psycho-educational programs. Named in honor of Dr. Delmar Nicks, who was one of the CSUN founding faculty in 1958.

This award is given to a student who has completed outstanding scholarship utilizing quantitative methods of data analysis through research or has demonstrated mastery of quantitative techniques in undergraduate coursework, as evidenced by dissemination of relevant research or scholastic performance in the relevant course. Named in honor of Dr. Robert Dear who taught rigorous psychology undergraduate statistical courses in the Psychology Department.

This award is given to a student who has completed outstanding scholarship utilizing qualitative methods of data analysis through research or has demonstrated mastery of qualitative techniques in undergraduate coursework, as evidenced by dissemination of relevant research or scholastic performance in the relevant course.

This award is given to a student who has demonstrated some scholarship and an exceptional record of service to the Department of Psychology, University, and/or community. The award is named in honor of Dr. Richard Coleman, who was a disabled war veteran and developed a tutoring program for undergraduate students taking statistics and research methods. He was on campus full-time and when he was not teaching, he spent many hours tutoring students who needed assistance with statistics.

This award is granted to a student who is a member of the National Psychology Honorary society: Psi Chi. This student has also demonstrated exceptional academic achievement with a GPA of 3.5 or greater, and additional service to the honor society. Named in honor of Dr. Nora Weckler, who was the first Chair of our Department and started the Psi Chi chapter at CSUN in 1967.

This award is granted to an undergraduate student who has conducted outstanding scholarship in Behavior Analysis. This student has utilized experimental research methodology (single-subject or group design) to answer a socially significant research question.

This award is given to the undergraduate student who has made the most notable contribution to the well-being of the local community through volunteer, psychology-related service, or research.

Named in honor of Dr. Luciana Laganà, who taught in the Psychology department for over 20 years. She conducted research focused on improving the quality of life of diverse, low-income, older women, and she developed film-based research to reduce stereotypes and increase empathy towards minoritized groups. This award is granted to an outstanding undergraduate or graduate student whose research makes a strong and lasting impact on the community, especially through creative and applied methods. This research may include, but is not limited to, research conducted in applied settings, research that provides a foundation for prevention/intervention programs, and/or research that directly serves and enhances understanding of underrepresented communities.

This award is given to a student who has completed outstanding scholarship utilizing advanced scientific methods and innovative research design or who has clearly demonstrated an advanced understanding of psychological research methods in graduate-level coursework. Named in honor of Professor Donald Butler, who taught graduate-level research methods and statistics courses for over 40 years at CSUN, this award is intended to recognize a graduate student who demonstrates an advanced understanding of quantitative research methods

This award is given to a student who has completed outstanding scholarship utilizing qualitative methods and statistics or who has demonstrated skill at qualitative techniques in graduate-level coursework.

This award is given to a student who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in the area of Multivariate Statistics. Named in honor of Drs. Barbara Tabachnick and Linda Fidell, who taught statistics classes in the CSUN Psychology Department and wrote the highly acclaimed book “Using Multivariate Statistics” that is used in our graduate statistics classes.

This award is named in honor of Professor Roger Moss, who started the Teacher Intern Program in 1968. Professor Moss was on the faculty at CSUN for over 40 years and inspired many students through his teaching and compassion. This award is conferred to a student who has demonstrated outstanding teaching skills in department intern programs (e.g., TIP, TRP, STP).

This award is given to a student who has demonstrated outstanding clinical skills that are informed by scholarly work. This award acknowledges graduate students with a particular interest in application of clinical psychology and therapeutic techniques. It is given to a student who has demonstrated excellent academic achievement and has also shown outstanding competence in assessment, engagement, and application of theoretical strategies in serving clients’ needs in an ethical, culturally-sensitive manner.

This award is given to the most outstanding student in Clinical Psychology. Named in honor of Dr. Robert Rainey, who helped develop the Clinical Psychology Program. This award recognizes a student who represents the highest levels of academic, research, and clinical skills

This award is given to the student in the clinical psychology graduate program who best represents the combination of clinical and applied research. Students who have demonstrated outstanding research and statistical skills in clinically-relevant research projects or theses are awarded this honor.

Named in honor of Professor William Wilsoncroft, who taught in the Psychology Department for over 30 years, this award is designed to be the most prestigious graduate award reserved for a student in the area of Psychological Science who has demonstrated exceptional academic achievements. This student shows high potential in continuing his/her education in a doctoral program.

This award is given to the graduate student (in any area) who has made the most notable contribution to the well-being of the local community through volunteer, psychology-related service, or research.

This award is granted to the most outstanding graduate student in the area of Behavioral Clinical Psychology. The student has demonstrated outstanding clinical skills in conducting assessments and providing treatments that are conceptually systematic with Applied Behavior Analysis, guided by the profession’s code of ethics, and informed by empirical evidence.

This award is granted to a graduate student who has conducted outstanding scholarship in Behavior Analysis. This student has utilized experimental research methodology (single-subject or group design) to answer a socially significant research question.

Named in honor of Dr. Luciana Laganà, who taught in the Psychology department for over 20 years. She conducted research focused on improving the quality of life of diverse, low-income, older women, and she developed film-based research to reduce stereotypes and increase empathy towards minoritized groups. This award is granted to an outstanding undergraduate or graduate student whose research makes a strong and lasting impact on the community, especially through creative and applied methods. This research may include, but is not limited to, research conducted in applied settings, research that provides a foundation for prevention/intervention programs, and/or research that directly serves and enhances understanding of underrepresented communities

This award is given to undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate the use of creative processes or designs in pursuing research, educational, and/or community service goals. Support for this award comes from the annual Psychology's Got Talent show.

Closed for 2025 - Return in Spring of 2026 for open application

Previous CES Winners

This endowment will provide one or more annual scholarship awards for a senior completing their studies in the Psychology Department or a graduate student in the Applied Behavior Analysis Master’s program, who aspire to obtain a graduate degree in applied behavior analysis (ABA) at the University, demonstrate a concern for others, and are dedicated to making meaningful change through the application of behavior analysis. The recipients will have demonstrated their participation in, leadership of, and/or personal commitment to educational change in K-12 schools. The endowment was established by Alex Melconian and named in honor of his late wife, Garine Melconian, to inspire others to continue her dedication to behavior analytic interventions with youth who are disadvantaged.

This endowment will provide one or more annual scholarship awards for a graduate student in the Applied Behavior Analysis Master’s program, who aspire to obtain a graduate degree in applied behavior analysis (ABA) at the University. Jose Rafael Solares earned his undergraduate and Masters of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) degrees from California State University, Northridge, while amassing academic accolades on his journey. Jose credited his time in the ABA Program with enhancing his passion for working with disabled children and the pivotal connections he established with peers, professors, mentors, and leaders in the industry, all of whom he deeply valued, well beyond graduation. Throughout his professional career, Jose found great fulfillment working with children and celebrating their achievements was an incredibly bright light within the field of Applied Behavior Analysis. His quest to help others, coupled with his compassion, brilliance, humility, and graciousness, was unsurpassed.

Pauline Serrano earned her BA (2020) and MA (2022) degrees in psychology from CSUN and served as a lecturer in the Psychology Department while she pursued her PhD in school psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). As a first-generation college student and immigrant from a single parent household, Pauline completely funded her education through scholarships. This scholarship honors her mother, Jhoanna Serrano, for all her hard work and sacrifice, and is intended to support a first-generation college student majoring in psychology from a single parent household (or is a single parent themselves).

Jhoanna Serrano's early life was marked by aspirations to pursue a career in psychology, a dream that shifted upon becoming a single mother during her high school years. At the ripe age of 18, Jhoanna immigrated from the Philippines to the United States with her sister’s family in search of a better future for her child. She instilled the values of hard work, respect, generosity, and gratitude into her daughter and went to great lengths to ensure she could pursue higher education. To Jhoanna’s surprise, her daughter decided to pursue the career path Jhoanna had once envisioned for herself. This scholarship serves as a tribute to Jhoanna’s enduring resilience and nurturing spirit and is a testament to the values she passed onto her daughter.