That service includes work with the School of Engineering Education’s INSPIRE Institute for Pre-College Engineering. Since October 2011, she has been an undergraduate research assistant through INSPIRE’s Undergraduate Pre-College Research Internship in STEM particularly Engineering (UPRISE) Academy.

Brittany believes her INSPIRE work helped her become a better student – particularly related to research methods and statistics.

“Of all of the projects I worked on, the one I think I benefited from the most was the Boys and Girls project,” she says. “I got to learn about every step in the research process, from beginning to end. That experience has really been helpful in my advanced Psychology and thesis classes. It also led to really cool experiences such as traveling to Texas for data collection, presenting at a national conference, and co-authoring academic papers.”

“Brittany is an extraordinary example of how the UPRISE Academy helps to grow the research skills of Purdue University’s promising students – developing them into knowledgeable researchers and future leaders of the world,” says M. Terri Sanger, research data and community coordinator with INSPIRE, who oversees the UPRISE students.

“Brittany is always there with enthusiasm and relentless energy for everything she does.”

A double major in Psychological Science and Sociology, both with Honors, Brittany also is pursuing a minor in Forensic Science.  She will graduate from Purdue in May 2015.

The Flora Roberts Award recognition includes a medal, a certificate, and a monetary award. In addition, Brittany will have her name inscribed on the permanent awards marker on the Purdue Engineering Mall.