Three Outstanding Students on Track to Pursue Dreams of Helping Youth Thanks to National Association of School Psychologists and Pearson

San Antonio, TX (PRWEB) March 25, 2009 -- Three graduate students are now closer to their goals of becoming school psychologists, thanks to scholarships from the National Association of School Psychologists (http://www.naspweb.org/about_nasp/minority.aspx)-Education and Research Trust (NASP-ERT) 2009 Minority Scholarship Program, co-sponsored by Pearson (www.pearson.com). Recipients of the scholarships, created to boost the number of minorities seeking careers in school psychology, were announced recently at the 2009 NASP Annual Convention in Boston. Since the program began in 1998, Pearson has been the major contributor to the 31 scholarships awarded.

The 2009 scholarship recipients are:

Wayne Gressett Memorial Minority Scholarship: Brooke Fails, University of Wisconsin - River Falls

Psychological Corporation Minority Scholarship Award: Tamika LaSalle, Georgia State University

Deborah Peek Crockett Minority Scholarship: David Walker, Georgia State University

"This year's scholarship recipients are wonderful young people and superior students, and they are all committed to working with disadvantaged children," said Deborah Crockett, Ph.D., past president of NASP. "They all plan to address the mental health and learning issues faced by so many children in our disadvantaged communities whether it's helping teen parents or students lacking literacy skills or those on the verge of dropping out of school."

Graduate training to become a school psychologist is extremely rigorous, notes Crockett. "The scholarships will ease these students' burdens, allowing them to focus on their important work in helping kids."

As a sign of difficult economic times, donations to NASP's scholarship program were low this year, "so without the help from Pearson and other sponsors, it would have been catastrophic for us," said Crockett. "We are very grateful to our sponsors that we were able to go forward with the scholarships this year."

The NASP-ERT Minority Scholarship Program was established to relieve the financial pressures of minority scholars pursuing graduate study in school psychology. Studies show that the overwhelming reason for a low percentage of minorities in school psychology programs is financial challenges.

In addition, the scholarship program supports the more profound goal of encouraging and promoting diversity within the profession. NASP founded the program on the belief that a richly diverse community of elementary, middle and high school students awaits graduating school psychologists, and a richly diverse profession will best serve them.

"School psychologists play a critically important role in today's schools by helping students overcome learning, social-emotional, and mental health difficulties that can interfere with success in school and life. It is wonderful to see outstanding individuals like this year's scholarship recipients setting their sights on the profession, particularly at a time when the nation is renewing its commitment to provide the resources necessary to increase achievement for all of America's children regardless of their challenges," said Aurelio Prifitera, group president and CEO of the Clinical Assessment group of Pearson. "We are proud to collaborate with NASP to support these outstanding scholars who I know will have a positive impact on the students of tomorrow."

The selection committee considers numerous factors, including applicants' financial need, academic history and professional goals. Applicants must be in specialist-level or equivalent school psychology training programs to be considered for the award. It is the only scholarship program of its kind in the country.

For more information about the National Association of School Psychologists-Education and Research Trust (NASP-ERT) Minority Scholarship Program, visit http://www.nasponline.org/about_nasp/minority.aspx.

About the National Association of School Psychologists

The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) is a not-for-profit association representing more than 25,500 school psychologists from across the United States and other countries. The mission of NASP is to represent school psychology and support school psychologists to enhance the learning and mental health of all children and youth. Partnering with all who share NASP's commitment to children and youth is critical to the organization's mission.

About Pearson

Pearson (NYSE:PSO), the global leader in education and education technology, provides innovative print and digital education materials for preK through college, student information systems and learning management systems, teacher professional development, career certification programs, and testing and assessment products that set the standard for the industry. Pearson's other primary businesses include the Financial Times Group and the Penguin Group. For more information about the assessment group of Pearson, visit http://www.pearsonassess.com.

For more information, press only:

Adam Gaber, Pearson, 212-641-6118.

Lisa Wolfe, L. Wolfe Communications, 773-227-1049.

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