We are pleased to announce the Spring 2008 winners of the APA Engagement Awards. From the pool of applicants, the two candidates who best articulated the link between their academic studies in psychology and their community projects were selected for the $500 award.
Martin Odima's role as a youth development counselor at the Midway Family YMCA offers him the chance to apply his growing knowledge of human behavior in his work with children. The YMCA program provides meals, tutoring, lesson plans and physical activity for children from Kindergarten through sixth grade. Martin's role working with the children will span all program areas, offering varied opportunities to draw upon his academic studies in psychology.
Maureen Kunkler will continue her work as a violence prevention educator with the University's Aurora Center, perhaps expanding her role to Coordinator of programs. She will utilize The Aurora Center's public speaking and victim support training along with theoretical knowledge from psychology course work to develop her comfort and skill at supporting victims of violence and educating community members about interpersonal violence.
Congratulations to Martin and Maureen for successfully linking their studies in psychology with public engagement!