Graduation Celebration for Psychology and Neuroscience Students
by Lynda F. Rysavy | Thursday, May 07, 2020
Professors Julie Earles, Ph.D., Kevin Lanning, Ph.D., and Laura Vernon, Ph.D., hosted a听surprise virtual ceremony on May 5 for Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College听graduates in psychology and neuroscience.听听The faculty gifted the听students with mortarboards; students reminisced about their favorite听college memories and shared their future plans.
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"We have had the good fortune to work with an exceptional group of听students these last few years, and we wanted to do something - even听something small - to recognize and thank them. We look forward to a听more formal ceremony when circumstances permit." said Dr. Lanning.
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Dr. Earles added "Our psychology and neuroscience students demonstrated听such great resilience during this difficult time. I am so proud of our听amazing students for completing meaningful thesis work and continuing听to engage in their classes even after their classes were moved online.听Their compassion for each other and ability to work together is truly听remarkable. It is an honor to work with them.鈥
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鈥淓arning an Honors college degree in听psychology or neuroscience is challenging during the best of times," said Dr. Vernon."The challenge is greatly magnified during a global pandemic. Our听students were physically removed from campus and their professors. On听top of that, some of them had to change their research and data听collection plans. Many had entirely new financial, family, and health听worries and responsibilities. Nevertheless, they rose to the occasion听and we are so proud of them.鈥
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"If you ask faculty what their "why" is, you'll hear one of two things:听their love of teaching or the students. You might even get both," added Mariana Lopes, one of the graduating seniors. "My favorite thing about the Honors College is that very quickly upon arriving, students make the faculty a part of their "why." The lovely听celebration put together by the psychology department is the epitome听of why us students have been able to keep doing what we're doing. We听have had the most empowering professors/advisers/friends out there!听There have been times when my strength left me and my motivation was听long gone, but I kept pushing because I had someone who told me I was听capable of more than I thought I was鈥攁nd they were right. The amazing听faculty are the real gems of FAU, and I could never thank them enough."
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