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The Department of Psychology recently recognized outstanding graduating seniors with its annual departmental awards, celebrating excellence in academic achievement, research, and community engagement.

These award recipients reflect the Department of Psychology’s commitment to excellence in scholarship, research, and community engagement, and represent the impactful work of ���ϲ����� students both on campus and beyond.

Seena Granowsky Outstanding Student in Psychology Award: Azul Bellot ’26

Azul Bellot received the Seena Granowsky Outstanding Student in Psychology Award, which honors a senior who demonstrates exceptional academic achievement and service to the field of psychology.

A double major in psychology and linguistics with a minor in teaching English to speakers of other languages, Bellot has distinguished herself through her scholarship, leadership, and commitment to mentoring.

“Azul is a leader and role model (…) sharing her own experiences and vulnerabilities around academia and research,” said Sabrina Perkins, associate professor of psychology, who nominated Bellot.

Bellot’s research explores trans linguistics, examining how language, identity, and ethnicity shape healthcare experiences for trans women and transfemme individuals. She has presented her work multiple times, including serving as a keynote co-presenter at a Center for Engaged Learning conference. Perkins emphasized that Bellot is “passionate about her work in ways that I find so inspiring and powerful,” and highlighted Bellot’s meaningful contributions to both classroom and research environments.

A first-generation college student, The ���ϲ����� Commitment scholar in the Odyssey Program, and semifinalist for a Fulbright English teaching assistantship to Spain, Bellot has also engaged in extensive community outreach, including recently completing the Peace Corps Prep Program, mentoring fellow students, and serving as a local English instructor for adults from diverse linguistic backgrounds.

Research Excellence Award: Natalie Peeples and Sophie Verrecchia

The Research Excellence Award recognizes seniors who demonstrate exceptional commitment to the undergraduate research process. This year’s recipients are Natalie Peeples ’26 and Sophie Verrecchia ’26.

Natalie Peeples, an Honors Fellow and Lumen Scholar, was recognized for a research project spanning the United States and Denmark, examining early childhood development across diverse educational contexts.

Her nominator, Professor of Psychology Maureen Vandermaas-Peeler, described the project as one of the most ambitious undergraduate projects she has mentored, noting that “[Natalie’s] motivation and initiative are outstanding and the sheer amount of work she has done is incredible.”

Peeples collected and analyzed multiple forms of data, including children’s drawings, photographs, and play observations, alongside parent and teacher focus groups. She has presented her work at several conferences and is first author on a manuscript currently under review, and will submit another very soon. Vandermaas-Peeler also highlighted her role as “an excellent and enthusiastic peer mentor,” supporting other students in their research development. Peeples will be continuing her education in Arizona, where she will pursue her master’s in speech and language pathology.

Sophie Verrecchia was recognized for her extensive contributions across two research labs, where she was described as “among the most rigorous, productive, and intellectually engaged undergraduate researchers” by her co-nominators Adi Wiezel, assistant professor of psychology, and Katrina Jongman-Sereno, assistant professor of psychology. In the BORG lab, Verrecchia contributed to all stages of the research process, including carefully coding behavioral videos and developing independent projects. She has coauthored a book chapter on romantic mate preferences, and her newest project extends existing research on relationship preferences by examining understudied populations, including lesbian women.

In the SoPeP Lab, Verrecchia’s work was awarded a competitive Wise Endowed Grant from the ���ϲ����� Undergraduate Research Program. She has presented three posters at the largest professional conference in her field and led her own research project on impression management and hiring perceptions, which will be presented internationally in Barcelona, Spain. Her nominators emphasized that “what sets Sophie apart is not only her productivity, but her commitment to doing research well. She approaches each stage with care, collaboration, and intellectual rigor, and consistently connects her work to meaningful questions within psychology.”

Community Engagement Award: Maddie Pettis

Maddie Pettis received the Community Engagement Award, which recognizes excellence in applying psychological knowledge in community settings through service, internships or outreach.

A double major in psychology and public health, Pettis has demonstrated a sustained commitment to health equity and community-based care.

“[Maddie] has shown a clear pattern of seeking out high-impact service opportunities and engaging thoughtfully with the communities she serves,” said Jordann Brandner, assistant professor of psychology, who nominated Pettis.

Her experiences include clinical and community-based work in Morocco, her hometown health clinic in New Hampshire and, most recently in India, where she focused on reproductive and maternal health. Through these roles, Pettis applied psychological principles to address stigma, improve patient interactions, and support access to care.

Brandner noted that Pettis developed “a practical understanding of how psychological principles can promote access, education and informed decision-making in real-world health contexts.” Pettis will continue her education at Columbia University this fall, pursuing graduate study in public health.