ORANGE, Calif., May 19, 2009 -- Chapman University has announced the recipient of its highest honor for a student, the 2009 Cheverton Award – equivalent to valedictorian of the senior class. “The Cheverton” is awarded annually to the outstanding graduating senior.

Yuri Choi of Longmont, Colorado is the recipient of this year’s Cheverton Award. Ms. Choi is receiving two Chapman degrees, a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and a Bachelor of Science in business administration with an emphasis in marketing. She has a 3.78 cumulative grade point average. Her scholarly accomplishments at Chapman include contribution to a successful marketing plan for a local nonprofit youth softball organization and presenting a professional paper at the 2008 Western Psychological Association Convention, held in Irvine.

Her senior thesis, “Demographic diversity and its effects in teams and organizations,” combines her two majors and her interest in applying principles of psychology to progressive business practices for the purpose of effecting positive societal change. She is a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority, Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society, and is the 2009 vice president of Chapman’s chapter of the Gamma Beta Phi Society, a national honor and service organization.

One of the oldest awards presented by Chapman, the Cheverton Award was established in 1929. The original bronze cup awarded to recipients was a gift of the Class of 1929 and remains on exhibit in the Argyros Forum on campus, along with its successor, a silver bowl. Upon the trophies are engraved the names of all Cheverton awardees since 1929. In addition to academic accomplishments, awardees must demonstrate a “high moral character” and “represent the spirit of Chapman University.” The award is named for Cecil F. Cheverton, Chapman’s sixth president, who served from 1929 to 1941.