Psi Chi, the national honor society for psychology students, has awarded the University of Missouri–Rolla chapter of Psi Chi with a Model Chapter designation.

This annual award recognizes and rewards chapters that consistently maintain outstanding records and remain active through service projects, recruitment, conventions and conferences. The chapter must have also voted in national elections and submitted activity reports to “Eye on Psi Chi,” the national honor society’s magazine.

There are more than 1,000 chapters of Psi Chi throughout the country, and 22 chapters were named as model chapters this year. Each winning chapter is awarded a check for $100.

“The students in our chapter did an excellent job organizing events and encouraging chapter participation this year,” says Dr. Will Canu, assistant professor of psychology and Psi Chi advisor at UMR. “This is the first time we have won this award, and it shows how well our leaders performed. I believe our incoming leaders are also very promising, and there’s a good chance we can win again.”

Since its founding in 1979, the UMR chapter of Psi Chi has held several philanthropic events each year, ranging from highway clean-ups to fund-raising activities that support Russell House, a shelter for victims of domestic abuse in Phelps County. The chapter also sponsors a scholarship in the memory of former psychology student Dan Wheeler.

In addition to charity events, Psi Chi hosts meetings every month to discuss chapter business, projects and campus research opportunities. Alumni also attend to lecture on graduate school, career possibilities and life after college. “For example, two people lectured earlier this year on non-profit organizations, and what it’s like to work in the non-profit field,” Canu says.

The mission of Psi Chi is to produce well-educated, ethical, and socially responsible members who are committed to contributing to the science and profession of psychology and to society in general. The UMR Psi Chi organization welcomes psychology majors, minors and others with an interest in psychology to participate in the group’s events.