Student Section Sponsored Awards

The ISTSS Student Section wishes to recognize the hard work and dedication of students and mentors alike. In this spirit, the section leadership created three annual awards: the Outstanding Student Advocacy & Service Award, the Outstanding Student Research Award, and the Distinguished Mentorship Award. Forward award nominations and related information, as well as any questions, to Namik Kirlic. The deadline for submission of materials is September 12, 2013.

Outstanding Student Advocacy & Service Award

Description: The ISTSS Student Advocacy Award recognizes a student member of ISTSS who has made significant contributions in the field of public advocacy, clinical work, and traumatic stress at a local, national, and/or international level. The award promotes efforts by students who have worked to advance the understanding of trauma or to improve the access to and quality of services that benefit those affected by traumatic events.

Requirements for Consideration:

Nominees must be current student members of ISTSS, or have been a student within the past year and been a student member when completing the activity for which they are nominated. Note: Student members are not eligible for this award while occupying a student leadership position.

Nominees must be nominated by an ISTSS member. The nominating member must provide the name, program and contact information for the nominated student member, and confirm that the nominee is a student member of ISTSS.

The nominating member will complete a two-page letter describing the outstanding advocacy or service of the nominee and reasons the member believes the student should be considered for the award.

Determination of the Outstanding Student Advocacy & Service Award: The ISTSS student leadership will evaluate all completed nominations on the basis of their contribution to the field of public advocacy, clinical work, and traumatic stress. The student leadership will select no more than 5 possible recipients and submit these nominations to the Student Grant Committee. This committee will make the final decision as to the recipient of the award. Nominated students and nominating members will be notified of the final decision and the recipient will be notified of his or her selection to receive the award. The recipient will receive a plaque recognizing the achievement and the honor will be presented at the annual ISTSS conference student luncheon

Outstanding Student Research Award

Description: The Award for Outstanding Student Achievement is designed to recognize a graduate student member of ISTSS who has made a significant contribution to the field of traumatic stress through scientific discovery.

Requirements for Consideration:

Nominees must be current student members of ISTSS, or have been a student within the past year and been a student member when completing the activity for which they are nominated. Note: Student members are not eligible for this award while occupying a student leadership position.

Nominees must be nominated by an ISTSS member. The nominating member must provide the name, program and contact information for the nominated student member, and confirm that the nominee is a student member of ISTSS.

The nominating member will complete a two-page letter describing the outstanding scientific discovery of the nominee and reasons the member believes the student should be considered for the award.

Determination of Outstanding Student Achievement Award: The ISTSS student leadership will evaluate all completed nominations on the basis of their scientific contribution to the field of traumatic stress. The student leadership will select no more than five possible recipients and submit these nominations to the Student Grant Committee. This committee will make the final decision as to the recipient of the award. Nominated students and nominating members will be notified of the final decision and the recipient will be notified of his or her selection to receive the award. The recipient will receive an award recognizing the achievement and the honor will be presented at the annual ISTSS conference student luncheon.

Distinguished Mentorship Award

Description: The ISTSS Distinguished Mentorship Award honors and promotes the considerable efforts and accomplishments of an individual who consistently serve as an effective mentor for students in the field of traumatic stress. The award recognizes one who effectively guides students throughout their professional training in a continuing, multi-faceted partnership sustained by mutual respect and concern.

Requirements for Consideration:

Provide intellectual leadership; model a record of excellence in research, clinical practice and/or creative work, teaching skills, ensure that students master the content and skills of their discipline; clearly articulate expectations and hold students to high standards
Create a supportive environment for research, clinical practice, scholarship and/or artistic production; respect student goals and assist them in goal attainment; strive to provide students with the resources necessary to take full advantage of institutional, academic and professional opportunities (e.g., publications, conferences, networking, clinical experience).
Promote successful and timely completion of students' degree programs; are proactive and effective in student post-training placement.
Act as advocates for students individually or collectively; help in overcoming problems, discord, and barriers.
Maintain accessibility by providing consistently open lines of communication.
Integrate students into the broader culture of the discipline.

Nomination Procedure: Nominations may be submitted by any student members of ISTSS. Once an individual has received this award, he or she will not be eligible to receive it again for a five year period. However, re-nominations are invited including additional information about the nominee. Nominations should include:

Nomination letter (2 pg. maximum) addressing the criteria in this announcement.
At least two and no more than five additional letters of support from fellow students, former students and/or postdoctoral students of this individual, and/or colleagues. Note: if additional letters are absolutely not possible, please include additional signatures on the original nomination letter.
Current curriculum vitae (10 pg. maximum) for nominee. The CV should include material that addresses the mentoring criteria.

Eligibility: Nominees must have served in a mentorship role within the past two years. Further, nominees should have an established track record of mentoring students. Students are encouraged to nominate individuals based on any of the numerous forms of mentorship: research, clinical practice, academic advising, supervision, role modeling, etc. We encourage nominations for mentors across all disciplines related to the field of traumatic stress.

Award Determination: The ISTSS Distinguished Mentorship Award is sponsored by the ISTSS Student Section. Students are requested to submit nominations based on the criteria above, following the procedures noted. The review committee for this award will include ISTSS Student Section leadership (chair and vice-chair) and three to five student members appointed by the Student Section leadership. One board member will participate in the selection committee. The recipient of this award will receive an award at the annual meeting. Additionally, the recipient is requested to attend the Student Luncheon to receive the award. Nominated students and nominating members will be notified of the final decision and the recipient will be notified of his or her selection to receive the award. The recipient will receive a plaque recognizing the achievement and the honor will be presented at the annual ISTSS conference student

Past Award Winners

Outstanding Student Achievement Award

Cassie Fichter (2012)
Eduin Cacerers (2011)
David Albright (2010
Erika Wolf (2009)

Distinguished Mentorship Award

Roxanne Cohen Silver (2012)
Charles Figley (2011)
Douglas Delehanty (2010)

For more information on the 29th ISTSS Annual Meeting, visit the website.

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