Medford woman to receive UW-Green Bay’s ‘Outstanding Student Award’

GREEN BAY — Stacey Frey’s collegiate portfolio and extensive résumé are reasons why she’s toward the top of the class graduates from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

The senior from Medford was selected as the December 2008 recipient of the Outstanding Student Award as selected by the UW-Green Bay Alumni Association.

Frey — who graduates Saturday, Dec. 20 with cum laude honors and a bachelor of science degree in psychology with a minor in Human Development — has excelled as a student researcher in the area of human behavior.

This fall, she served as an assistant to Prof. Denise Bartell on a major research project promoting awareness of healthy romantic relationships. The project was to result in creation of an online resource for college students at UW System campuses statewide.

Frey assisted another faculty member, Prof. Kathleen Burns, by helping collect and code data for a study of stereotyping and emotion. She also worked as a student tutor in psychology, and as a teaching assistant for Prof. Dennis Lorenz, helping with exams, student study sessions and even lecture presentation.

For an independent study project, Frey analyzed data to evaluate the effectiveness of a local elementary school’s drug intervention program. Her senior honors project, under the supervision of Prof. Kristin Vespia, addressed academic dishonesty and the factors that might shape a student’s attitude about cheating.

Her concern for at-risk children and the development of young people is evidenced by a lengthy list of community activities. Since 2006, she has worked a staff member with the YMCA’s Learning After School Program in Green Bay and, during a semester exchange program in Columbia, S.C. She assisted with her local YMCA’s Girls Night Out Program, leading weekly activities for sixth-grade girls to promote healthy self-esteem and decision making. This year she was waterfront director and lifeguard supervisor for Camp U-Nah-Li-Ya in Oconto County.

A mentor to a 10-year-old girl through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, Frey is also proud to be a multi-year participant in UW-Green Bay’s Phuture Phoenix Program. The program matches local fifth-graders with college students who encourage the children to value education, to plan to graduate from high school and consider higher education.

Frey plans to pursue a master’s degree in Social Work and a career working with at-risk children and adolescents.

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