The College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences is proud to announce the 2025 Julian A. McPhee Honor Award recipients, Natalie Khoury and Aubrey Schuster, both of whom have demonstrated outstanding academic achievements and meaningful contributions to the Cal Poly Pomona community.
Aubrey Schuster, a psychology major, brings a deeply rooted passion for education as the child of two teachers. After transferring to CPP, Aubrey embraced CPP’s “become by doing” philosophy through tutoring and becoming an after-school teacher in Walnut. Her early experiences in a dual immersion program fostered strong communication skills and appreciation for cultural diversity, which complement her academic pursuits. At CPP, Aubrey found a welcoming environment for transfer students that allowed her to grow both academically and personally. Her coursework has strengthened her understanding of how psychology and education interact, reinforcing her desire to become a school psychologist who supports students academically, socially, and emotionally. In five years, Aubrey envisions herself in a school setting, helping to foster positive learning environments where students can overcome challenges and reach their full potential.
Watch Aubrey's CPP journey on Youtube.
Natalie Khoury, a psychology major, brings a rich cultural heritage to her academic achievements as a first-generation student whose parents immigrated from the Middle East. Through her psychology studies, Natalie has developed a strong dedication to eliminating the stigma surrounding therapy while working to make mental health services more accessible and culturally responsive for diverse populations. Her experience at CPP has been transformative both personally and professionally. At CPP, Natalie designed and implemented a longitudinal research experiment, presented her findings at student conferences, and published to Bronco Scholarworks. Her dedication earned her the Psychology Department's Professional Development award in Spring 2024. Following graduation, Natalie will continue her education in CPP's Masters of Science in Psychology program, working toward becoming a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist serving children, adolescents, and families from diverse backgrounds and underserved communities.
Watch Natalie's CPP journey on Youtube.
Read more about the interviews with Natalie and Aubrey.