The Department of Psychology has a strong reputation of honoring research achievements and academic excellence. Thanks to the generosity of Caitlin Ziegler ’17 and the Ziegler Family Foundation, we expanded this recognition of excellence three years ago to also celebrate students who make meaningful contributions to their communities. Here, meet three of the eleven awardees for 2025.
Poojha Prabahara Sundar
Strengthening K-12 Participation in STEAM activities
Since her junior year of high school, Poojha Prabahara Sundar has been actively involved in Wisconsin’s Destination Imagination (DI), an after-school enrichment program that encourages students to collaborate in teams to solve open-ended STEAM challenges, fostering creativity and innovation. At UW-Madison, Poojha has continued her work with DI, where she developed a mentorship initiative that connects experienced program members with students from underrepresented areas.
“As a former participant, I credit DI with significantly strengthening my project management and critical thinking skills,” Poojha shares. “By expanding opportunities for students across the state to engage in this program, I hope to positively impact their lives and share the benefits I’ve personally gained through my involvement.”
A Psychology and Neurobiology major with a certificate in Gender and Women’s Studies, Poojha’s academic pursuits, research experience in Dr. Allyson Bennett’s lab, and engagement with DI highlight her dedication to understanding human behavior and exploring the intersections of science and the humanities. After graduation, she plans to apply the skills and knowledge she has gained to a career in healthcare.
Maggie Flanagan
Advocating for Mental Health
“Psychology is not just an academic pursuit for me,” says Psychology and Marketing major Maggie Flanagan. “It’s a toolkit I use every day to help others find their strength and voice.”
Maggie’s dedication to mental health advocacy is evident through her volunteer work with Badger Recovery, her internship in the Office of a Wisconsin State Senator, and her leadership in founding a mental health ministry within her church. “Through St. Paul’s Mental Health Ministry, we work to break the stigma surrounding mental illness in religious settings,” she explains. “By blending spiritual support with open mental health conversations, we foster a safe space where people often feel heard for the first time in their lives.”
Receiving the Psychology Undergraduate Community Impact Award has enabled Maggie to expand her outreach efforts, both with Badger Recovery and within her faith community. Her goal is to “create a campus culture where mental health struggles are not seen as a weakness, but as a universal part of the human experience.”
After graduation, Maggie intends to continue her academic journey by pursuing a graduate degree in clinical or counseling psychology.
Ciarra Prill
Supporting Youth Through Adversity
Ciarra Prill discovered her passion for working with youth while serving as a camp counselor at Kids Junction Learning Center. “Kids confided in me about divorced parents, mean stepsiblings, and anxieties about life at home,” she recalls. “These experiences inspired me to study child psychology and explore how adversity shapes development.”
A Psychology major with certificates in Disability Rights and Services, Criminal Justice, and Leadership, Ciarra has devoted herself to understanding how hardships affect children’s mental health and their growth into adulthood. Her dedication extends beyond the classroom, with impactful roles as a middle school tutor, a volunteer for a crisis text line, and a year-long mentor to a child experiencing homelessness through the community mentorship course Building Academic, Social, and Emotional Support.
“Working with children who have faced significant challenges has allowed me to apply what I’ve learned in my courses to better understand their experiences and take meaningful steps to improve their present circumstances—whether at summer camp, after school, or in math class,” she shares.
After graduating, Ciarra plans to pursue a master’s or PhD in Counseling Psychology, with the goal of continuing to support children navigating life’s challenges.