SASP and Division 16 support students from under-represented cultural backgrounds as they endeavour to become a part of the inspiring profession of School Psychology. SASP and Division 16 are aware of the pressures that graduate students experience and thus, through generous support from Division 16, the BEST Scholarship (Previously known as the Diversity Scholarship) Program was created to provide monetary support to aid students from diverse cultural backgrounds entering the field. While we understand and acknowledge that diversity encompasses many factors such as disability status, age, gender, location, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status; SASP’s mission is to recruit and retain students from racially and ethnically marginalized and historically excluded backgrounds. Students who discuss their background and how their ethnic-racial identity has impacted their studies and professional goals will thus be prioritized for the awards. SASP offers the following four awards each year for student support: two incoming student awards in the amount of $500 each and two advanced student awards in the amount of $1,000. Applicants must be members of Division 16 and SASP in order to be eligible for the award; for more information on membership, click here. Recipients of the awards will be recognized for their award at the APA Convention during SASP’s Student Research Forum (SRF).

For the purposes of this scholarship, diversity is defined as any student who is marginalized and identifies as part of a historically excluded group on the basis of race, ethnicity, and/or national origin. International students who meet this criteria are also encouraged to apply.

Incoming Student BEST Scholarships

Two (2) annual awards of $500 are given to master’s/specialist or doctoral students who will be entering their first or second year of graduate training to help defer some of the costs acquired through graduate study. This is a one-time award; individuals granted the award may not reapply in subsequent years (i.e., for the Incoming nor Advanced Student award). For students who will be starting their first year in the fall, proof of an offer of acceptance into a school psychology program will be required.

Advanced Student BEST Scholarship

Two (2) annual awards of $1,000 are given to an advanced master’s/specialist or doctoral student who will be entering their third or above year of graduate training to help defer some of the costs acquired through graduate study or in preparation for internship. This is a one-time award; individuals granted the award may not reapply in subsequent years. Please note that the individual who wins this award is required to present their research at the Annual SASP Student Research Forum (SRF) at the APA Convention. Travel funding is NOT part of the scholarship.