NASW Foundation Announces 2007-2008 Award Recipients

• Jane B. Aron Doctoral Fellowship
• Eileen Blackey Doctoral Fellowship
• Verne LaMarr Lyons Memorial MSW Scholarship
• Consuelo W. Gosnell Memorial Scholarship
• Ruth Fizdale Program

Jane B. Aron Doctoral Fellowship

Amy R. Krentzman ─ Ms. Krentzman is a PhD candidate in the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University.  She earned her MSW from New York University, School of Social Work, in 1994, and a BA degree from Northwestern University in 1986.  Ms. Krentzman is a Assistant Professor of Social Work and Director of Social Work Field Education and Director of Common Ground Service-Learning Program, at Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY.  The title of her doctoral dissertation is Religious Coping and Alcoholism Treatment Outcomes: A Comparison between Black and White Respondents. Her anticipated date of completion is May 2008.

Eileen Blackey Doctoral Fellowship

Anna L. Zendell ─ Ms. Zendell is a PhD candidate in the School of Social Welfare, at the University at Albany.  She earned her MSW from the University at Albany in 2001 and a BA cum laude degree from Marymount College in 1989.  Ms. Zendell is a Doctoral Research Assistant, Center on Intellectual Disabilities/Center for Excellence in Aging Services, at the University at Albany, School of Social Welfare. Her doctoral dissertation, Decision-Making Processes among Sibling Caregivers of Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities was completed in March 2007.

Verne LaMarr Lyons Memorial MSW Scholarship

Pamela A. Smith ─ Ms. Smith is an advanced standing MSW student enrolled full-time in the School of Social Work at Jackson State University.  She is a BSW honor graduate from Jackson State University. She has worked in health practice, particularly with African Americans, educating the community about heart disease. She was also a wellness intern with the Quality Education for Minorities Network in Washington, DC, where she created an adolescent obesity curriculum.

Consuelo W. Gosnell Memorial Scholarship

Olivia Abeyta-Gonzalez, Colorado State University ─ Ms. Abeyta-Gonzalez, as a bilingual and bicultural woman, observed disparities in health and mental health services provided to the Latino community.  While pursuing her Master of Social Work, she has worked as the Coordinator of the Multicultural Services Program in Larimer County, building bridges for the Latino community.  She also hosts and produces a local radio program designed to reach monolingual Spanish speakers in the Colorado Front Range.  

Aldrin Ceballos, University of Maryland ─ Mr. Ceballos, a Columbian immigrant, knows first hand the struggles of immigrants to the United States.  While in Columbia, he pursued a degree in communications and also worked in Human Resources.  Upon immigrating to the United States, Mr. Ceballos knew that his calling was to work with children and families affected by contemporary problems such as immigration, drug abuse and domestic violence.  He shares first hand experience with those who have immigrated and is an asset to their transition to becoming citizens.

Lisa Humphrey, University of Minnesota – Duluth ─ Ms. Humphrey has intimate knowledge of the challenges and strengths of Native American people as a case worker and licensed foster parent for the Leech Lake Ojibwe Indian tribe.  She has worked in child welfare and juvenile justice disciplines of social work and hopes to continue this work upon graduation from the University of Minnesota – Duluth.  Additionally, she travels to Mexico as a member of Witness for Peace, a group that examines the effects of globalization on indigenous people in Mexico.

Juan Ortiz, North Carolina State University ─ Mr. Ortiz immigrated to the United States from Venezuela. He found his work with HIV/AIDS in minority communities inspiring.  Upon entering his Master of Social Work program at North Carolina State University, he knows his goal is to offer quality psychotherapeutic services to low-income communities.  He would also like to work with mental health providers to deliver culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate services to Spanish-speaking clients.

Monica Paz, University of Southern California ─ Ms. Paz has worked with children who have prenatal exposure to methamphetamines at the UCLA Medical Center for the past four years. While her primary role is research and evaluation, she has seen the enormous impact her social work skills have provided to these children and families, particularly the low-income, Latino families.  Upon completion of her degree, she would like to work in a mental health clinic that focuses on underprivileged Latino children.
 
Britt Urban, University of Texas at Austin ─ Ms. Urban has dedicated herself to working with immigrant populations since she was an undergraduate.  In her various jobs she has worked on behalf of farm workers, on education campaigns about the human rights abuses, and has advocated for those who have been victims of human trafficking.  She hopes to continue working on the issue of human trafficking, particularly with the vulnerable Latino community, both in micro and macro social work practice.

Ruth Fizdale Program

2006 Fizdale Award not given. No applicants received for this fiscal year.