The National Association for Gifted Children recognized two UALR graduate students at the group’s Research Gala event in Atlanta Nov. 11 to 14 that attracted 2,500 attendees.

Debbie Dailey, a doctoral student from Beebe, (pictured at left with UALR’s Dr. Ann Robinson, president of the NationalAssociation for Gifted Children), placed second in the doctoral category for her paper, “Interim Effects of Implementing a STEM Initiative on Elementary Teacher Perceptions and Concerns About Science Teaching and Learning.”

Mary Lin McNeill, (at right), a graduate student from Lake Charles, La., won first place in the masters category for her paper, “Creativity and Perfectionism: Are They Related?”

A national panel of 20 leading researchers judged the work. McNeill and Dailey competed against graduate students from the College of William and Mary; Duke; Purdue; Texas A&M; and the Universities of Arizona, Connecticut, Denver, Ohio State, and Virginia.

“Debbie and Mary Lin are wonderful young researchers with innovative ideas and a solid understanding of empirical inquiry,” said Robinson, director of UALR’s Center for Gifted Education. “The national recognition of their work by a panel of the leading researchers in gifted education is exciting for them personally and for our program at UALR.”