SASP and Division 16 support students from under-represented cultural backgrounds as they endeavor 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.

Early Student Scholarships

Two (2) awards of $500 and free D16 membership for one year are given to master’s/specialist or doctoral students who will be entering their first, second, or third* year of graduate training to help defer some of the costs acquired through graduate study. This is a one-time award; individuals granted the awards may not reapply in subsequent years. For students who will be starting their first year in the fall, proof of an offer of admittance and acceptance into a school psychology program will be required. Only Incoming applicants will receive free D16 membership for one year.

Advanced Student & Internship-level Scholarship

Two awards of $1,000 are given to advanced masters/specialist or doctoral students who will be entering their internship year AND/OR fourth year and beyond graduate training to help defer some of the costs acquired through graduate study or in preparation for internship. Applicants must be students enrolled in their program in the fall of the application year; students on internship are encouraged to apply (so if your degree is conferred in October, you will not be eligible). Post-doctoral fellows are not eligible for this award. 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 encouraged to present a poster highlighting their research at the Annual SASP Student Research Forum (SRF) at the APA convention.