Division 54 Receives the 2012 APAGS-DSRN Outstanding Division Award

I am pleased to announce that Division 54 has been recognized by the American Psychological Association Graduate Students-Division Student Representatives Network (APAGS-DSRN) as the 2012 recipient of the Outstanding Division Award.

The APAGS-DSRN Outstanding Division Award recognizes APA divisions for superior performance in promoting graduate student growth, involvement, and joint APAGS/APA membership. To receive this award a division must demonstrate an exemplary level of commitment to providing opportunities for student development. SPP demonstrates these qualities through:

1. Devoting significant time to student-oriented programming at national, regional, and APA conferences.

2. Subsidizing student conference registration; providing formal mentoring in both general professional development and manuscript reviewing.

3. Providing financial support for student scholarship through grants and awards.

4. Highlighting student research.

5. Remaining open to student input and issues through the student advisory board and network of campus representatives.

This is truly an honor for SPP and recognizes the division's tremendous commitment to our over 400 student members. SPP is a wonderful division for students interested in pediatric psychology, and this recognition will only help us to recruit and retain the best and brightest future leaders in the field.

Personally, I am thrilled by this news. For me, this award provides external validation for the remarkable commitment I have seen from the Board of Directors and our individual members involved in training and mentoring during my time as a trainee and serving as Student Representative. I want to extend a very big public thank you to the SPP Board of Directors and all of the SPP members who commit themselves to making the division a great place for students.

Christopher Cushing, Student Representative