The Gabe W. Miller Memorial Foundation presented $2,500 scholarships to second-year master of social work students Audrey Tousant and Carlos Moran, which the USC School of Work matched via a tuition credit.

Established in memory of aspiring social work graduate student Gabe Miller who attended the University of Denver at the time of his death in January 2005, the foundation provides financial support for social service students, professionals and organizations that share Miller's passion of improving the lives of the disabled, disadvantaged and dispirited.

Tousant, who has a bachelor's degree in sociology and law and society, has been a caseworker for the L.A. Bridges Program at the Audubon Middle School, an intern at the Public Counsel's Office and a volunteer with Food from the Hood. She has helped match families in need of legal services with pro bono attorneys, developed academic enrichment workshops, facilitated parent workshops and managed agency programs.

With her experience in delivering services to abused and neglected children, at-risk youth, families facing terminal illness and disabled children, Tousant plans on working in community building and educational improvement to reduce the problems of child and youth populations.

Moran, who earned bachelor's degrees in child and adolescent development and Chicana/o studies, has mentored delinquent and neglected teens as a case worker, helping them build social-political awareness and leadership skills. In his field internship, he has helped provide mental health services to children and families. Moran's volunteerism has centered on community activism as a youth organizer and facilitator and board member of The Puente Project Conference and MechA (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicana/o de Aztlan) National Conference.

As many who are called to social work, Moran was a child when he was first exposed to the profession. The oldest of five siblings who were taken from their parents and placed in separate foster homes, Moran remained in contact and following his emancipation from foster care, he enrolled in college and started the process of legally adopting his two brothers and sister who were still in the system. He succeeded, bringing them all together under one roof and now serves as parent, along with his other roles of graduate student, social activist and volunteer.

His concentration is Community Organization, Planning and Administration, which he hopes will prepare him for establishing his own non-profit community center one day where he can help youths make a better life for themselves.