School of Social Work Award Recipients
These awards are the highest honor bestowed upon the school's alumni, faculty, and students
each year by the School of Social Work and its Alumni Organization.
2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002
2012 Award Recipients
The SSWAO awards for 2012 were presented at the School of Social Work Spring Conference by Danica Wolf, president of the SSWAO, and Terri Marty, Awards Committee chair.
Outstanding BSW Student: Kam Phillips
The Outstanding BSW Student is Kam Phillips, who came to Missouri from Texas to attend the University of Missouri. Kam is one of 60 nationwide Truman Scholars and the only University of Missouri student to receive the Truman Scholarship. In her undergraduate program, she founded the Dream Outside the Box organization with the goal of helping children from low-income families explore career choices. She is a winner of the MTV competition as a college student who changed her world. She is a founding member of the MU chapter of the American Association of University Women and is the 2011 MU Homecoming Queen. Kam plans to pursue a graduate degree.
Outstanding MSW Student: Kelly Jackson
The Outstanding MSW Student is Kelly Jackson, who also graduates in May 2012. She has spent her semester placement at Love INC. Kelly has a nursing and administrative background and has been a foster parent, is active in her church, and is a mother and grandmother. In her internship at Love INC, she demonstrated leadership and compassion. She collaborated with her placement agency to develop the Extra Mile, a program that extends mentoring to include personal goal setting, community networking and financial management. She is known to be able to have those difficult but necessary conversations with clients.
Outstanding PhD Student: Michelle Kaiser
The Outstanding PhD Student is Michelle Kaiser. Michelle has been the student representative to the SSWAO and the School of Social Work Doctoral Committee, where she represents and advocates for doctoral students. The respect and admiration of her peers and school faculty are evident in her multiple nominations. Beginning in fall 2012, Michelle will be an assistant professor at the School of Social Work at Ohio State University.
Outstanding Faculty Member: Suzanne Cary
This year’s Outstanding Faculty Member is Suzanne Cary. Suzanne is the director of field instruction at the School. In this position, she has contact with every practicum student, field instructor and field agency. Coordination of this process is no small feat. She makes sure that the field experience intersects with what has been taught in the classroom, which enables students to begin the process of applying what they have learned. She tirelessly seeks out the best placement for every student to enhance their learning. Suzanne is able to troubleshoot placement problems and find a new placement if needed, often within days of the need arising. She is known to emphasize professionalism and ethics to students, where she leads by example.
Outstanding Social Service Agency: Love INC
The 2012 Outstanding Social Service Agency is Love INC. Love In the Name of Christ was established in 2008 by co-founders Jane Williams and Pat McMurry. The agency serves as a local clearinghouse that receives social service requests and uses mostly volunteer efforts to match needs with local church and community resources. The agency provides community life coaching, budget counseling, job search assistance and re-entry support for ex-offenders. In 2011 George Lombardi, director of Missouri Department of Corrections, presented Love INC with a Community Partnership Award for its efforts in helping ex-offenders. Love INC also maintains a partnership with the MU Office of Social Learning. Love INC offers their Living Large Program twice a year to the community. This 12-week educational program offers skill building in job seeking, life skills, spiritual development and financial skills. Love INC is recognized as a force for social justice in the community.
Outstanding Alumni: Judy Hillyer
Outstanding Alumna Judy Hillyer, ACSW, LCSW, is a 1987 BSE and 1994 MSW graduate of MU. Judy did her internship at Boys and Girls Town in St. James, Mo., and today she is the director of advancement for the Great Circle, which was formed in 2009 by the merger of Boys and Girls Town of Missouri and Edgewood Childrens Center. Her recognition of vulnerable girls being unaware of the ability to make choices in their own lives made her determined to develop a program to give them the power to create a future of their own choice based on positive experiences and relationships. With the help and support of staff, board members and the community, Changing Prisms—A Voyage of Self Discovery—was born. Since 2003, this program has served more than 400 young women. Judy Hillyer exemplifies “the social work professional devoted to problem solving in human relationships and empowerment and liberation of people to enhance their well-being.” (International Federation of Social Workers)
2011 Award Recipients
Outstanding BSW Student: Anna Hoskins
Outstanding MSW Student: Melissa Fritts
Outstanding PHD Student: Amber Moodie-Dyer
Outstanding Faculty Member: Dr. Dale Fitch
Outstanding Social Service Agency: Fulton State Hospital
Outstanding Alumni: Jayne Bury Leet
2010 Award Recipients
Outstanding BSW Student: Claire Schillinger
Outstanding MSW Student: Sarah Longlett
Outstanding PHD Student: Kirsten Havig
Outstanding Social Service Agency: Missouri Alliance for Children and Families
Outstanding Alumni: Norma Knowles, MSW, LCSW
2009 Award Recipients
Outstanding BSW Student: Nia Manning
Outstanding MSW Student: Ryan Black
Outstanding PHD Student: Seema Sehrawat
Outstanding Faculty: ManSoo Yu, PhD, MSW, MA
Outstanding Social Service Agency: Family Guidance Center for Behavioral Healthcare - St. Joseph, MO; President & CEO, Garry Hammond accepted the award on behalf of the agency
Outstanding Alumni: Malinda Lamb, PhD, LISW, CCJP
2008 Award Recipients
Outstanding BSW Student: Alisha Waller
Outstanding MSW Student: Karen A. Enyard
Outstanding PHD Student: Michele L. Day
Outstanding Faculty: Martha Markward
Outstanding Social Service Agency: Boys & Girls Town of Missouri
Outstanding Alumni: Dasi Schlup
2007 Recipients
Outstanding BSW Student: Gayle Ervin
Outstanding MSW Student: Kristin Baker
Outstanding PhD Student: Andrew Muriuki
Outstanding Faculty: Elizabeth Wilson
Outstanding Social Service Agency: Ellis Fischel Cancer Center Patient and Family Services
Outstanding Alumni: Paula Richards
2006 Recipients
Outstanding BSW Student Award: Carmen Washington
Outstanding MSW Student Award: Mark Miller
Outstanding Faculty Award: Michael J. Kelly, MSSW, PhD, LCSW
Outstanding Alumni Award: Vince Hillyer, MSW'94 ACSW, LCSW
2005 Recipients
Outstanding BSW Student Award: Kelly Ferrario
Outstanding MSW Student Award: Angela Kay Davis, BSW
Outstanding Faculty Award: Carol Snively, MA, MSW, PhD
Outstanding Alumni Award: Ann Ruhl Woody, BASW '68, MSSW '71
2004 Recipients
Outstanding BSW Student Award: Megan Klenke
Outstanding MSW Student Award: Audrey Shearer
Outstanding Faculty Award: Kalea Benner
Outstanding Alumni Award: Gene L. Svebakken
2003 Recipients
Outstanding BSW Student Award: Julie Ditmars
Outstanding BSW Student Award: Dia M. Carpenter
Outstanding MSW Student Award: Kimberly Erin Scott
Outstanding Faculty Award: Assistant Professor Fran Danis, MSW, PhD
Outstanding Alumni Award: William H. Fuser, MS in Social Work ‘70
2002 Recipients
Outstanding BSW Student Award: Brent M. Coleman
Outstanding MSW Student Award: Nadie Antranette Dubose
Outstanding Faculty Award: Marjorie Sable, MSW, MPH, DrPH
Outstanding Alumni Award: James C. Brady, MSW ‘78
