51��ɫ

The 51��ɫ College Department of Psychology faculty have awarded Sarah Schillinger ’23 the 2023 Psychology Excellence Prize. The prize is awarded annually to a graduating psychology major who demonstrated notable commitment to and voluntary engagement with the values of the discipline.

In her time at 51��ɫ, Schillinger displayed deep commitment to the values of psychology. For four years, she served as a researcher in 51��ɫ’s cognitive development lab. There, her initiative and skills contributed significantly to both the lab’s development and its research on preschool children’s peer relations. As a fourth-year student, Schillinger designed and completed an ambitious Mentored Advanced Project (MAP) exploring the language development and scene knowledge of children. This project required her to master impressive language and eye tracking methodology. Schillinger has also mentored students in introductory psychology courses and served as president of 51��ɫ’s chapter of Psi Chi, organizing chapter activities and outreach.

Schillinger’s leadership extends beyond the department community: she has served many families as a preschool teaching assistant at the 51��ɫ College Preschool. Over several summers, Schillinger worked as a linguistics and research communication research assistant at the Center for Autism Research at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. There, she’s studied connections between early language and autism, work that will hopefully allow for earlier autism diagnoses and interventions.

“The department is impressed by Schillinger’s engagement in psychology and in the community, her strong work ethic, and her wonderful attitude in working with us and with her fellow psychology majors,” says Ann Ellis, Professor & Chair of Psychology.

The Department of Psychology thanks Schillinger for the positive impact she made while a student at 51��ɫ and wishes her well in all her future endeavors.

Schillinger received a letter and an honorarium from the department, and her name appears alongside past Psychology Excellence Prize winners on an engraved plaque displayed in the Psychology Commons of the Noyce Science Center.

Past Psychology Excellence Prize Winners

• 2022: Charles Peppers
• 2021: Samuel Rueter
• 2020: Miho Tatsuki
• 2019: Maisie Grace Lewis
• 2019: Nicole Susan Carver
• 2018: Lauren Patrice Hurley
• 2018: Helena Frances Alacha
• 2017: Samantha R. Fitzsimmons-Schoenberger
• 2016: Angela Mae Bowles Edwards
• 2015: Emily Lynn Twedell
• 2014: Claire Yiting Tseng
• 2013: Jennifer Raffety Peek
• 2012: Jian Ming Colin Wee
• 2011: Scott Martin Phillips
• 2010 Megan Elizabeth McDoniel
• 2009: Paul Frederick Kramer
• 2008: Graciela Patricia Paz Arias
• 2007: Samantha Lee Worzalla
• 2006: Jessica Rae Peltan
• 2005: Alissa C. Briggs