The Outstanding Graduate Professional Practice Award recognizes a student who demonstrates excellence in professional activities related to educator preparation including pedagogy, best practices, assessment, and the translation of research to improve practice.

Philip is a skilled and dedicated counseling professional with a specialization in geriatrics and marriage and family counseling. He has demonstrated outstanding professional practice in serving clients in various settings, as well as engaging in research to inform practice. This has included collaborating with faculty to conduct Theraplay interventions with elementary and middle school children and examine their effectiveness. Philip’s dissertation is also focused on Theraplay and involves exploring the experiences of caregivers of individuals with progressive dementia.