Student receives McGraw-Hill Ryerson Scholarship Award

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/andrea edit.jpg” caption=”Andrea Unrau, a fourth-year honours psychology student, received the 2006 national McGraw-Hill Ryerson Student Scholarship Award in October. Photo courtesy of Andrea Unrau.”]Fourth-year honours psychology student Andrea Unrau has received the 2006 national McGraw-Hill Ryerson Student Scholarship Award. The award recognizes student initiative, integrity and engagement in the classroom, while supporting a commitment to teaching and learning in higher education.

Unrau is very involved in the McMaster Institute for Music and the Mind (MIMM) and is currently completing her undergraduate thesis on how infants process melodic information in the lab of MIMM director, professor Laurel Trainor of the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour.

In addition to an outstanding academic record, Unrau is very involved in musical performance. She is the music director for McMaster Musical Theatre's production of Hair, having played piano for productions of Pippin and The Wiz in past years. She also sings with the McMaster University Choir.

“Being able to combine science with my love of music in my studies here at McMaster is extremely interesting and rewarding,” said Unrau. “I was very honoured to find out I had been chosen for this award.”

Trainor nominated Unrau for the $500 award, which she received in October.

“Andrea's enthusiasm for learning and her active participation in the classroom and in research exemplify what undergraduate education should be about,” said Trainor.