Each year, the USC School of Social Work, the university and other service-oriented organizations honor faculty and students who have made significant achievements in their academic careers and contributions to the USC and at-large communities. Many were honored at this year’s Dean’s Recognition Ceremony, which also recognized new and past student leadership, those on the Dean's List and Dean's Honorable Mentions.

Student Awards and Recognition

Graduating Dean’s Leadership Scholars
Recognizes those full-time students with demonstrated leadership capacity and experience who received the Dean's Leadership Scholarship at the start of their academic careers and attended the University Park campus, Orange County Academic Center, Skirball Academic Center or San Diego Academic Center.

Christie Amrein
Sara Bethel
Leanne Brotsky
Raphaelle Cuenod
Hannah Gill
Sarah Grim
Kristen Gundersen
Matthew Lutz
Matthew Lyons
Shauna McClain
Michelle Phillips
Laura Ramirez
Kristine Rezny
Christopher Rios
Jessica Saba
Kathy Sanchez
Moira Williams

Phi Alpha Honor Society Scholarship
Awarded to student members of the national social work honor society Phi Alpha in recognition of service, scholarship and leadership.

Clotilde Dedecker
Carlos Duarte
Chelsy Duffer
Dashamelle Robinson
Siying Wang

Order of Areté
Given by the USC Division of Student Affairs, as the highest honor accorded graduate students upon completion of their academic programs, in recognition of outstanding leadership, volunteerism and commitment to the campus and community.

David Arnett
Nicole Barnes
William Brown
Emily Cheshire
Alejandra Cortez
Juan Carlos Cruz
Diana Diaz Madera
Christian Doody
Carlos Duarte
Linda Flores
Brittany Hannaberry
Sumala Haque
Joey Jerome
Leslie Knight
Rebecca Labree
John Lahey
Amy Lopez
Mathew Lyons
Charles Miller
Luis Navarro
Erica Novoa
Zaira Paloma
Huong Pham
Stephanie Pozuelos
Kristine Rezny
Jamie Shafir
Andrea Summerlin
Chris Tacto
Francisco Vasquez
Keisha Walker
Moira Williams
Jasmine Ward

Dean's Award for Excellence and Innovation
Recognizes USC School of Social Work graduates who have led the way in academic excellence while blazing trails in service to the communities they work in, at the school and the USC community.

David Arnett
Michael Davidson
Carlos Duarte
Oscar Gomez
Kristin Gundersen
Aimee Monterrosa
Stephanie Pozuelos
Michael Smith-Fernandez
Andrea Summerlin

Gladys M. Salit Award
Recognizes academic excellence, outstanding field work performance, and exceptional leadership and creativity.

Francisco Dussan
Huong Pham
Kristine Rezny

Student Liaison Leadership Award
Recognizes students who take on a leadership role in planning the school’s admissions events by providing an extraordinary USC experience.

Jeffrey Viray

Social Work Alumni Association Award
Recognizes great potential to contribute to the social work profession and the USC alumni community.

Brittany Hannaberry
Rebecca LaBree

Lillian Hawthorne Prize for Outstanding Contributions by a Concentration Year Student
Recognizes a Concentration Year student from the University Park campus, Orange County Academic Center, Skirball Academic Center or San Diego Academic Center who has made significant and transformational contributions to the programs and policies of the field agency in which they were placed.

Norchelle Brown
Corrina Espino
Oscar Gomez
James Lopez
Rene Mathis

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

Matthew Lyons

Faculty Awards and Recognition

Sterling C. Franklin Award for Distinguished Faculty
Recognizes a faculty member who has achieved excellence in research and demonstrated outstanding service to the university, school and community. Established in 2000 by the Morris Smith Foundation.

Jeremy Goldbach

Hutto Patterson Foundation Award for Distinguished Faculty
Recognizes a faculty member for excellence in teaching who has demonstrated outstanding service to the university, the school and the community. Established in 2000 by the Hutto Patterson Foundation with a matching gift from the Morris Smith Foundation.

Kristen Zaleski

USC School of Social Work Award for Excellence in Leadership and Creativity
Recognizes excellence in leadership, creativity and contributions to curriculum.

Renee Smith-Maddox

USC School of Social Work Excellence in Teaching Adjunct Faculty Award
Recognizes adjunct part-time faculty members for outstanding contributions to enhancing excellence in teaching.

Sandra Hill-Glover

Jane Addams Faculty Award
Recognizes a faculty member whom the graduating students have nominated for their academic, administrative and moral support of students.

Stacy Kratz
Samuel Mistrano

White House President’s Gold Award from the Corporation for National and Community Service
Recognizes commitment to strengthening the United States by making a difference through volunteer service.

David Schonfeld

White House President’s Lifetime Achievement Award from the Corporation for National and Community Service
Recognizes commitment to strengthening the United States through a life dedicated to education.

Marv Southard