Each year, the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work honors students who have made significant achievements in their academic careers and contributions to the community. We are proud to recognize the following students for their outstanding accomplishments.

Social Work Alumni Association Award

Recognizes great potential to contribute to the social work profession and the USC alumni community.

Onaje Muid, DSW student

“Onaje exemplifies the fighting spirit of a Trojan in his personal, student, professional and community life. He works with former gang members to stop gun violence, and his community volunteer activities include rites-of-passage and mentor programs.”

- Murali Nair, clinical professor

Raquel Roman, MSW student

“Raquel is most deserving of the 2020 Social Work Alumni Award. She transformed the homeless shelter at Dolores Mission to better serve its immigrant population as the first female Director of the Guadalupe Homeless Project. She exemplifies the finest qualities of our field.”

- Peter Braun, adjunct assistant professor

Gladys M. Salit Award

Recognizes academic excellence, outstanding field work performance, and exceptional leadership and creativity.

Chantel Valdivieso, MSW '20

“Chantel’s leadership facilitates a closer bond among social work students, promotes community humanitarian engagement, fosters the highest social work professional standards, and invites students to pursue academic excellence and achievement.”

- Suh Chen Hsiao, clinical associate professor

Ralph Fertig Award

Recognizes an MSW student involved in publishing a book or jury-refereed journal article.

Samuel Naimi, MSW '20

“Samuel has proven himself an excellent critical thinker and a highly skilled writer. His recent and forthcoming scholarship within the fields of social work, gender and sexuality are testaments to the continued success he will encounter, having received his graduate degree from USC.”

- Murali Nair, clinical professor

Lillian Hawthorne Endowed Award

Recognizes a student who has made significant and transformational contributions to the programs and policies of the field agency in which they were placed.

Carissa Donahoo, MSW '20

“Carissa was placed at TreePeople, and has done an incredible job of merging the importance of mental health and the environment, and even created an educational video series on what teachers, parents and children can do during the Safer at Home orders.” 

- Holly Priebe Sotelo, clinical associate professor

Christiana Grotlisch, MSW '20

“Outstanding is the word that best describes Christiana. During her internship with the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry’s Special Patients Clinic, she developed and implemented an infrastructure for consultation between dentists and social workers. Through her advanced assessment skills, she was able to identify risk factors and mental health issues that otherwise would have been overlooked by the oral health providers.”

- Margarita Artavia, clinical professor
- Marcia Cunha, adjunct assistant professor

Christina Lee, MSW '20

“Christina spent her placement at 1010 Development Corporation. She is a natural leader who went beyond the call of duty, every day, to contribute to solutions for the City of Los Angeles’ housing crisis.”

- Holly Priebe Sotelo, clinical associate professor

Lily Rosenthal, MSW '20

“Lily simply is one extraordinary person. Her work at Child and Family Guidance Center has given her the opportunity to showcase her innate talents and affinity for this profession. The cases assigned to her are difficult, challenging and she has met them with a profound understanding of the practice skills she has been asked to utilize.”

- Judith Axonovitz, clinical professor

Outstanding Contribution to the Grand Challenge in Homelessness

Chantel Valdivieso, MSW '20

“Chantel worked diligently to express her voice to the voiceless when working with the unsheltered population in LA County. She eloquently, with her radiant smile, made efforts to make those who are vulnerable feel heard, validated, and comfortable.”

- Layan Kaileh, Project Administrator
Grand Challenge to End Homelessness

The graduating student body annually recognizes a faculty member with the for their academic, administrative and moral support of students.

Jane Addams Faculty Award

Margarita Artavia
Clinical Professor of Field Education
Adult Mental Health and Wellness