The Marjorie Scott Scholarship for Excellence (MSSE) is presented at commencement each year to a graduating student from each degree program who has demonstrated active participation in the MSP community and has best achieved excellence in academic performance, clinical work, and research. The PsyD recipient of this award has also demonstrated excellence in dissertation research. Students are invited to apply during the third semester, and the winners are announced during MSP’s annual commencement rehearsal.
We are delighted to announce that Tasnia Khan and Hannah Kingkittisack are this year’s scholarship recipients. Tasnia and Hannah were honored during the commencement ceremony on July 31st.
MA Award
Tasnia Khan is an outstanding graduate of MSP’s Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology program with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis.
During her three years at MSP, Tasnia has demonstrated academic excellence in both her clinical psychology and ABA coursework. She has applied this standard of excellence to her work outside of the classroom, attending the Annual Muslim Mental Health Conference, the Midwestern Psychological Association Conference, and presenting at MSP’s Multicultural Conference for Belonging and Inclusion. Tasnia plans to work with immigrant communities, and these experiences allowed her to share her expertise and gain additional insight.
Throughout her time in the program, Tasnia has impressed her faculty and clinical supervisors with her dedication to advocating for those around her. She served as the MA/ABA program’s student representative during a period of significant change, the retirement of Program Director, Dr. Ruth Anan. She played an important role in facilitating communication between faculty and students, which was instrumental in supporting her cohort through this transition. In her clinical work, Tasnia was recognized by senior leadership at her ABA site for her analysis of cultural barriers to treatment and work advocating for families.
In his letter of recommendation, Dr. Maher spoke highly of not only Tasnia’s clinical skills but her character noting, “Tasnia has accomplished all these things while maintaining a quiet humility. She brings a spirit of kindness, acceptance and joy to her environments.”
PsyD Award
Hannah Kingkittisack is an outstanding graduate of MSP’s Doctor of Psychology program and alumna of the school’s Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology program with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis.
During her time in the PsyD program, Hannah served as a student ambassador, a doctoral cohort student representative, and as a planning committee member for the Psi Chi Research Symposium and the Cultural Competency Conference. In 2022 and 2023 after successfully completing the BCBA exam, Hannah was asked by Student Engagement to present tips for studying for the BCBA exam as part of Career Services Month. She also contributed greatly to campus culture during her time as the Student Engagement Graduate Assistant, a Student Assistant, and a Teaching Assistant. In all these roles, Hannah worked diligently to support not only her peers but faculty and staff as well.
In her clinical work, Hannah has provided exceptional support to the children, adolescents, and families in her care. Hannah’s work in both assessment and intervention is deeply rooted in interdisciplinary care, ensuring that all her clients’ needs are met. Outside of her own caseload, she has gone above and beyond in not only providing supervision, but peer mentorship to master’s level clinicians.
In addition to mentoring her peers, Hannah has taken the time while in the program to share her expertise with others through involvement with professional organizations. She has presented at the Association of Psychological Science Annual Convention, the Society for Research on Adolescence Annual Meeting, the American Psychological Association Convention, and gave numerous didactic presentations. Hannah has also served as the student affiliate for APA Division 44, Division 25, and Division 53.
As noted by Dr. Anan in her recommendation, “Hannah combines academic rigor, clinical excellence, and genuine care for the populations she serves in a way I have seen only rarely. But what moves me most, watching her reach this point, is something the scholarship’s criteria cannot fully capture: in a few short weeks, the young behavior specialist I once employed, then taught and supervised, and then chaired, will become my peer. I have spent a career training psychologists, and it is a rare privilege to watch one of them arrive as a colleague I am immensely proud to stand beside.”