THE ISPA AWARD 2003

RAQUEL GUZZO
 

Raquel Guzzo is presented the ISPA Award for 2003 in recognition of her distinguished services to ISPA. She has been a member of ISPA since 1989. In 1994 she was chair of the Local Organizing Committee that organized the first ISPA Colloquium in South America, where there was a record attendance of over 800 participants. She has been active in promoting school psychology in the Latin American countries, and especially in her home country Brazil, and later she initiated and chaired the ISPA Latin-Iberia Committee. She served as ISPA’s Treasurer from 1995 to 2000 and established new parameters for the management of the Association’s budget. In 1999 she set up a website for ISPA, ispaweb.org, and served as its webmaster until 2002.

Raquel has been a regular participant in ISPA colloquia since becoming a member and she has always brought with her several of her students who brought energy and enthusiasm and full commitment to all the events. In 2000 she presented a memorable keynote address at the New Hampshire colloquium on the subject of underprivileged children in Brazil. She has invested much effort to combine research, training and practice in her country and at an international level, carrying this out with a personal warmth, openness and genuineness.

Raquel has also been active in the implementation of the United Nations Convention on Children’s Rights in her home country and participated in the worldwide research project of the Children’s Rights Committee.

Raquel introduced the flavor of Brazil to ISPA – an amazing vitality that inspired many. The International School Psychology Association is extremely fortunate to have Raquel as an active member and leader, one who continues to contribute to the Association in important ways. The ISPA Distinguished Service Award is given to Raquel Guzzo as a symbol of our appreciation for her continuing and distinguished service and commitment in promoting the values and aims of our Association.

It is with great pleasure that I present this award to Raquel on behalf of ISPA, our small way to say thank you for all she has done for us during the last years.

Peter Farrell, President, ISPA
Exeter, England, July 2004