Awards and Recognitions

Previous Outstanding Field Award Recipients

• Fall 2025

  Outstanding Field Instructor: Leticia Cerda, LMSW, TruChoice Pregnancy Resource Center - Nominated by Student: Sarah Luna

  

  Leticia has been at the agency for almost 16 years and exemplifies the life-saving work a social worker aims for. Leticia has taken the role of field instructor to go above and beyond and has become a mentor to me, both personally and professionally. Despite the many hats she wears at the agency, the many programs she oversees, and the approximately 40 volunteers she oversees, she always makes time to debrief client appointments with me, schedule supervision, and check in to see how things are progressing with my internship and responsibilities (e.g., capstone project, ELP tasks, etc.). Leticia emphasizes a strengths-based approach, not only towards me but towards all volunteer and staff members. She exemplifies the NASW Code of Ethics in all the work that she does, providing a shining example of the type of social worker I aspire to be. As well, she takes the time to provide reasoning for decisions made, policies abided by, and approaches taken, allowing me to understand the many areas a social worker must consider when working with clients. There is no better field instructor I could have asked for. This placement has truly been an educating, enlightening, and empowering experience. Any student who has the privilege to be mentored by her will walk away with a plethora of knowledge and gained competence. 

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  Outstanding Task Supervisor: Lucy Ross with Representative Erin Zweiner's Office - Nominated by Students: Sydney Booth & Taylor Talbert

  

  Lucy Ross has been an exceptional Task Supervisor for myself and another Texas State BSW intern. She is timely and organized, provides constructive feedback, is encouraging, high-energy, and helpful. Lucy has never made me feel like a burden being an intern; She is always there to answer questions, provide guidance, and she has been warm and welcoming since day one. That being said, she does not shy away from providing interns with a challenge so that we may learn and grow independently. Lucy is also BSW graduate from Texas State and has provided me with a level of support and understanding of my social work values and my role as a social work intern that I simply would not have received from any other Task Supervisor. During my internship, I was faced with an ethical dilemma in which I was aggressively confronted by a constituent. Lucy's support and guidance was instrumental to my ability to navigate the situation effectively. She responded to the incident quickly and effectively, making the necessary reports and following the agency's protocol efficiently. Additionally, her emotional and professional concern and support helped me process what had happened and learn and grow from the experience instead of dwelling on the negative feelings and remaining in fear. She is not only an amazing Task Supervisor, but a great role model. I feel as though my confidence in my place within the field of social work has grown exponentially under her supervision and I could not think of a single person more deserving of this award.

  Ms. Ross ensures multiple open lines of communication for interns and is quick to respond and assist. She is readily available in the office for timely feedback and is quick to respond during hybrid work. Ms. Ross provides great, in-depth feedback that promotes a great learning environment with opportunities demonstrate independence. She helps maintain ethically abiding language and correspondence, as well as mitigating and fosters a healthy dialogue in politics.

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  Outstanding BSW Student: Erica Perez Nieto, nominated by Dawn Burnside at Communities in Schools

  

  It is with great pride that I nominate Erica Perez Nieto for the Outstanding Student Award. Throughout their internship, Erica has consistently demonstrated an exceptional level of professionalism, ethical decision-making, and commitment to social work values that far exceeded expectations for a student intern. Erica approaches her work with maturity, integrity, and a deep respect for the dignity and worth of every individual they serve. She actively engages in reflective practice, welcome constructive feedback, and demonstrates a strong understanding of how to navigate complex ethical situations with thoughtfulness and sound judgment. Her commitment to ethical practice is evident in the way they maintain boundaries, uphold confidentiality, and advocate for equitable treatment across all client interactions. Erica has not only met the competencies expected of a social work intern she has surpassed them with excellence, intentionality, and heart. Her professionalism, leadership, and dedication to advancing human rights embody the highest standards of the social work profession.

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  MSW Foundation-year Student: Joel Ojeda-Peña, nominated by Mariana Romero-Hernandez with Austin Police Department Victim Services

  

  For his MSW Foundation year and first professional role, Joel has consistently demonstrated exceptional participation, ethical behavior, and professionalism. He respects his schedule by dressing professionally, arriving on time, attending all assigned shifts, and remaining flexible to participate in additional opportunities as needed. During his internship with APD Victim Services, Joel immersed himself in meaningful and often challenging learning experiences. Joel completed a 10-hour Patrol Ride-Along with an APD Officer, responding to critical incidents including a vehicular homicide, a death notification, and an intoxicated person. Additionally, Joel completed a 10-hour Crisis Shift, working overnight hours, where he assisted in responding to a missing child Amber Alert and a Sexual Assault case involving a 10-year-old child. In each of these experiences, Joel demonstrated strong ethical decision-making and maintained professionalism when interacting with victims of crime and their families. He has shown a deep understanding of the complexities of victim services and the importance of connecting clients to resources at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Despite being in his foundational year, Joel showed remarkable initiative in learning and understanding the role of a Social Worker within the APD Victim Services unit. During weekly supervision, he thoughtfully engaged in reviewing and applying the nine core social work competencies to his internship experience. Joel is kind, personable, respectful, and receptive to feedback. His tenacity, eagerness to learn, and consistent professionalism have greatly impressed me. For a foundational-year student, Joel has exceeded all expectations and has demonstrated qualities that will make him an outstanding professional in the field of social work.

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  MSW Advanced-year Student: Alina Odom, nominated by Bolutife Dosumu with Glasshouse Effect Psychotherapy Center, PLLC

  

  It is my great pleasure to nominate Alina Odom for the Outstanding Student Award. As her Field Instructor at my private mental health practice, Glasshouse Effect Psychotherapy Center, PLLC, I have had the privilege of witnessing her exceptional growth and dedication throughout her internship, where she has focused on the critical area of mental health within Asian American communities. Alina has consistently demonstrated a rare combination of intellectual curiosity, resilience, and professionalism that sets her apart. Participation Alina has been an exemplary intern, consistently exceeding the basic requirements. She actively engages in supervision, demonstrating a genuine desire to learn and grow. Her commitment to understanding the complexities of mental health for Asian Americans is evident in her extensive evidence-based research on relevant public policies and appropriate clinical interventions. She doesn't just absorb information; she critically analyzes it and seeks to apply it meaningfully. Ethical Behavior Throughout her time with Glasshouse, Alina has maintained the highest standards of ethical conduct. She has shown profound respect for the sensitive nature of our work and has approached her research and community outreach with cultural humility. Her handling of confidential information and her interactions with potential community partners have always been guided by a strong ethical compass, ensuring she represents herself and our organization with integrity. Professionalism Alina’s professionalism is remarkable. She consistently demonstrates accountability, responsibility, and a proactive attitude. Even when faced with personal challenges, she maintained open and transparent communication, ensuring her responsibilities were always met. She embraces constructive criticism with a growth mindset, viewing feedback not as a critique but as a valuable tool for her development. This maturity is a clear indicator of her readiness for a successful career. Leadership Skills Alina has proven herself to be an emerging leader. When her initial plan to launch a psychoeducation group on the "Model Minority" myth did not attract sign-ups, she was initially discouraged but quickly motivated to adapt and explore other ways to reach this group. Instead, she demonstrated adaptability and leadership by taking the initiative to pivot her strategy. She took full ownership of a new outreach plan targeting local high schools, a task that required significant coordination and self-direction. Effective Communication is one of Alina’s most impressive strengths. On a weekly and as-needed basis, she communicates with me to let me know what work she is doing and will be doing. She articulates her ideas clearly and corresponds with professional partners, such as school counselors, with confidence and clarity. Her ability to listen attentively and integrate suggestions has been fundamental to her success. Furthermore, her initiative to create a survey to gather data before a presentation demonstrates a strategic, thoughtful approach to communication, ensuring her efforts are targeted and effective. Exceptional Field Placement Alina has transformed her field placement into a model of impactful, real-world learning. Faced with an initial setback and personal challenges, she demonstrated incredible resilience and problem-solving skills. By shifting her focus to high school outreach, she single-handedly built a bridge to a key demographic, taking complete responsibility for initiating contact, designing engagement tools, and coordinating logistics. Her work has laid a valuable foundation for our future community engagement efforts and showcases her ability to turn challenges into opportunities. In summary, Alina Odom embodies the qualities of an outstanding student: she is bright, resilient, professional, and deeply committed to making a positive impact. More importantly, she is learning to turn what initially looks like failures into steppingstones and learning opportunities, finding different ways to achieve the goals at hand. Her performance during her internship has been nothing short of exceptional. I wholeheartedly endorse her for this award and am confident she will continue to achieve great things. Sincerely, Bolutife Dosumu, LCSW, MPA EMDR and Brainspotting Trained Owner and Lead Psychotherapist Glasshous Effect Psychotherapy Center, PLLC

• Spring 2025

  Outstanding Field Instructor: Leah Tull - Nominated by student: Denise Ekk

  I have been blessed to have Leah Tull, LMSW as my field supervisor since August of 2024. I was initially nervous about my internship experience as my placement was not my first choice. However, Leah welcomed me on day one with flowers and a card. She always makes her schedule for the week known to me ahead of time so that I can plan my hours. She is responsive and communicative. When there have been situations such as illness or weather emergencies, she checks in on me and ensures that I have meaningful tasks that I can complete. She prioritizes my supervision and makes sure that she is available to provide timely and meaningful feedback about my progress. Leah actively seeks opportunities for me to engage with students, school administrators, other professionals, and the community. She promotes my professional development with assigned readings and analytic conversations around policy and legislation. Because Leah and I both have children who attend school with some of the students in the disciplinary program, she has guided me on appropriate boundaries and avoiding conflicts of interest. Leah has also facilitated relationship-building with other school professionals including teachers, school counselors, and administrators. She has provided me with opportunities for training and development and provided supportive supervision around difficult issues with students. Working in a disciplinary alternative school setting is challenging on the best days. Leah genuinely cares about her students and takes the time to get to know each one individually. She demonstrates empathy and compassion for the students and actively challenges barriers to their education. Leah is not afraid to bring concerns to the administration and other professionals. Leah is a strong advocate for social justice issues in the classroom and beyond and I highly value the guidance I have received from her for the past almost 9 months.

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  Task Supervisor: NONE

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  Outstanding BSW Field Student: Alysia Ramirez, nominated by Dr. Tamara Shetron 

  Alysia Ramirez is an outstanding Social Worker Intern. She came to our program with little knowledge of what we do and dove right in with great care and interest. Alysia showed great initiative by seeking out the information she needed to progress in our area and help our students. She is never shy about reaching out for advice or asking for assistance with a student issue. Alysia did not hesitate to participate in all aspects of our program which range from individual student meetings to assistance with study groups, troubleshooting problems as a team member, and seeking out resources to support our students and our team. Alysia took it upon herself to present on the direct application of SOWK ethical principles to our program. Alysia also demonstrates professionalism in all she does including protecting client privacy and respecting the different roles Bobcat RISE staff hold. I am particularly impressed by Alysia's leadership skills. She doesn't have an idea and then mull it over and shyly introduce it - she has confidence in her ideas and freely shares them with me (program director) demonstrating a level of maturity beyond her years. Alysia effectively communicates with our students, staff, volunteers, and visitors to our program. She demonstrated exceptional field performance in that she adheres strictly to all the demands and requirements of the SOWK field internship, yet she also seeks to go beyond by bringing all her skills and ideas to support our students and help our program grow and develop. I highly recommend Alysia for this honor as she demonstrates excellence in all areas AND she does so with a relaxed demeanor exuding a sense of competence - which is not always the case with undergraduate students!

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  Outstanding MSW Foundation Year Student: NONE

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  Outstanding MSW Advanced Year Student: Kristen Corona - Nominated by Joy Gironda

  Kristen has demonstrated all skill sets required to be not only a good social worker, but an excellent one! From day one, Kristen expressed professional and appropriate communication in her interactions with clients and staff. Kristen has a calm demeanor in the face of our diverse range of clients in recovery from addiction and acts ethically, as required by our policy and protocol and the Code of Ethics our profession demands. She is motivated to learn new clinical skills, eager to take on new groups and seminars and can manage sessions with individual clients. Kristen's leadership shines when she is engaging the clients in our Nutrition and Wellness for Addiction Program and clients are drawn to her enthusiasm and positivity. There is no doubt in my judgement that Kristen Corona deserves this nomination and award. Thank you for allowing me to submit this nomination.

• Fall 2024

  Outstanding Field Instructor: Brittany Gold, Meaningful Pathways

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  Outstanding Task Supervisor: Danitza James, Repatriate our Patriots

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  Outstanding BSW Student: Alexis Skotnicki - Nominated by Angie Garner with Texas State University & Taylor Sambrano with NASW Texas Chapter 

  Alexis Skotnicki has stood out as an outstanding student in a class of great students.  Alexis participates fully in all class discussions and activities.  She is vulnerable with what she shares, encouraging other to share their experiences.  She takes ethical behavior seriously and has asked for feedback on the best way to navigate  situation.  I have been impressed with her professionalism in her written and oral communication.  She has been a leader during class, through initiating conversation and encouraging improved communication for all participants.  Her site supervisors have also reported that she has behaved in these ways at the internship site.  Alexis is bright, kind, professional and someone who I believe should be honored for their hard work.  

  It is with great enthusiasm that I nominate Alexis Skotnicki for the Excellence Award for Outstanding Student (BSW). Alexis has consistently demonstrated exceptional skills, professionalism, and a deep commitment to the social work profession.  As a Bachelor's-level social work intern, Alexis has delivered work that exceeds the expectations for her degree level, frequently operating at a master’s-level capacity. Serving as a hybrid intern, her impeccable communication skills have been evident as she maintained clear, professional, and effective dialogue with staff, fellow interns, volunteer leadership, and external stakeholders. During the recent election cycle, Alexis made a significant impact by creating comprehensive voting resource webpages for both the Texas and Louisiana NASW chapters. These resources helped empower social workers and their clients to become informed voters, making a crucial contribution to our advocacy efforts. Additionally, Alexis developed engaging social media content to share these resources and promote the importance of civic engagement through the “Social Workers Vote!” campaign.  Alexis also expanded our monthly Student Newsletters, delivering meaningful content that included career pathways in social work, policy updates, self-care tips, and opportunities for professional growth. Her dedication to supporting student members highlights her commitment to fostering the next generation of social workers. In her macro-level fieldwork, Alexis contributed extensively to advocacy initiatives. She conducted thorough research on paid practicum advocacy efforts in other states, providing insights that will inform our legislative campaign to pass the Social Work Intern Practicum Stipend program in Texas. Additionally, she played a key role in managing the NASW-TX advocacy Twitter account, where her timely and relevant posts kept social workers informed on policy developments and social issues.  Alexis’s mezzo-level contributions are equally impressive. She supported the NASW-TX Women’s Rights Committee in advancing their mission to advocate for the rights, health, and well-being of women in Texas through meaningful partnerships and community engagement. At the 48th Annual NASW-TX State Conference, Alexis co-managed the membership table, where she engaged with social workers and NASW members from around the state, highlighting the benefits and advocacy work of the chapter. She also co-presented a breakout session on the benefits of NASW membership, where she spoke on how students can engage with the organization and leverage NASW resources to advance their careers. Throughout her internship, Alexis has embodied the values of the social work profession and demonstrated a remarkable ability to thrive in mezzo and macro-level roles. Her professionalism and outstanding contributions make her a deserving candidate for the Excellence Award for Outstanding Student (BSW).

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  Outstanding MSW Foundation Year Student: Sophia Stewart - Nominated by Julia Gubser with Austin Angels

  Sophie settled into her role right away here at Austin Angels and it feels like she's always been here! She has been an active participant in staff meetings, planning for events, and assisting both case managers and volunteer + waitlist coordinators with daily tasks and ongoing projects. Sophie has a critical eye for ethics in the field and is always examining how we can improve with DEI initiatives. She's passionate about creating workplaces where equity and diversity are not afterthoughts, but a natural part of the fabric. The professionalism Sophie has shown in representing our organization to the community has ensured that we maintain good relationships with partners and develop new ones! Sophie has been able to work independently on projects, taking initiative to assist with work that needs to be done, and collaborates easily with our other Texas State intern, our Programs + National teams, and our New Braunfels chapter; all examples of her leadership abilities. Throughout her internship Sophie has been tasked with communicating via email, phone, Zoom, and in-person with clients, donors, and community partners. In each instance she has exemplified her effective communication skills as she trained volunteers, secured donations, and coordinated events. Overall, Sophie has been an exceptional value add to our organization. One instance that stands out is the time and work she put into helping National Angels put on our first national programs conference! We would not have been able to make this the refreshing and thoughtful experience that it was without Sophie's help in securing donations and planning. We'll be sad to see Sophie go, and are so thankful that the field is gaining such an incredible social worker! 

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  Outstanding MSW Advanced Year Student: Luna Rodriguez - Nominated by Jordan Roman with Travis County Correctional Complex

  Luna is an asset to the field of social work and behavioral health at large. Participation: Luna is not only willing to participate in a wide range of activities related to her growth and development at the site, but she also brings an unmatched attitude of curiosity and positivity to each task she completes. She delivers keen observations and asks thoughtful questions that indicate she is invested in her education and becoming an outstanding professional. Luna is proactive, self-sufficient and dynamic, always looking for opportunities to contribute and support the organization. Ethical Behavior: Luna initiates discussions related to ethical dilemmas in each supervision, demonstrating a knowledge of her professional code of ethics and commitment to becoming an ethical provider. Luna reflects an acute ability to perspective take and demonstrates an ability to take considered and conscious actions reflective of a commitment to lifelong learning. Professionalism: Luna conducts herself professionally in interactions with her supervisors, supporting staff, clients, and fellow interns. Luna demonstrates a knowledge of professional boundaries, proactive and respectful communication, and passion for the work we do (no task is too big or small). Luna receives feedback with grace and curiosity, integrating feedback into her actions. Leadership Skills: Luna exhibits patience in her ability to lead clients or fellow interns. Luna is willing to take on leadership roles and takes this position seriously, exhibiting responsibility, organization and intention. Luna is not afraid to ask or help or admit her limitations and does not let this impede her confidence in her ability to execute her assigned tasks. Effective Communication: Luna communicates clearly with her supervisors. She demonstrates an understanding of the appropriate balance between listening (to herself and others) and advocating (for herself and others). Luna takes notes and reflects her understanding, always willing to clarify an objective to ensure goal attainment. Exceptional Field Performance: Luna approaches this placement as an exceptional employee would. Luna takes advantage of each opportunity provided to her and goes above and beyond, without hesitation or expectation of reward. Luna demonstrates a commitment to empowering individuals, challenging systems, and furthering her own knowledge. Luna embraces the unique challenges of this setting, population, and diverse issues that arise.

• Spring 2023

  Outstanding Field Instructor - Kristene Blackstone, Learning Bridge

  Field Instructor, Kristene Blackstone has been consistent in her strengths-based approach and support of me throughout my internship. She knows that I am working full-time in addition to school and internship and has made herself available, especially when my work with the organization happens after 5pm. She provides nearly immediate feedback and has expressed her desire to provide me with timely support and information so that I can process it relative to the task it is associated with. I have served as a Victim Advocate with a large metropolitan law enforcement agency for over two decades. I have had thousands of hours of supervision. During my supervision with Kristene Blackstone, she inquires about both my educational and professional growth. She asks probative questions that go beyond superficial learning and challenge my way of thinking. Kristene Blackstone adheres to the NASW Code of Ethics professionally and in her work as my Field Instructor. She links aspects associated with my tasks to code and competencies. She strives to assist me in the promotion of developing my professional self and has utilized her contacts to further enhance my learning experience. (For example, sharing a connection with the Supreme Court's Commission on Children and Families so that I could visit with them and learn more about their work). Ultimately, she demonstrates Social Work Best Practices in her role, and I am able not just to learn from her guidance, but also to learn from the vibe and impression she provides.

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  Outstanding Task Supervisor - Dr. Harlan Ballard, Office of Disability Services at Texas State University 

  My task supervisor is such a wonderful gift.  Dr. Ballard has empathy for me because he understands my behavior and understands that I am a disabled veteran with PTSD. He supports me in my ventures and leaves room for creativity. We are two of the same personalities, that's why we understand each other so well. I am extremely grateful that he is my task supervisor. Dr. Ballard shows patience and understanding when it comes to communicating with people that have mental disabilities. He is extremely encouraging. Yes, I have made mistakes and Dr. Ballard points them out in a constructive manner. While ensuring me that I am doing a great job. This is extremely important for me because I have had many bad supervisors.  Dr. Ballard is caring, understanding, and shows true empathy.  

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  Outstanding BSW Student - Kiomi Hernandez

  Kiomi Hernandez has been eager and enthusiastic from day one of her internship with me.  Just a few weeks into her internship, I announced that I would be leaving to accept a position with another organization.  I had an option for her to transition to another facility with another social worker in the same setting, and Kiomi met that idea with grace and enthusiasm, although I imagine that inside it may have felt a little scary, nerve wracking, and stressful.  Ultimately, however, the administrator at our facility was impressed with Kiomi's professionalism and obvious passion for our population that she chose to invest in Kiomi's future and has offered her the full-time position at the facility upon her graduation.  We had to make some fairly unconventional accommodations to make this work and to allow her to continue her internship at our agency which included keeping me on as a part-time social worker working remote. This has allowed me to continue to supervise Kiomi until she obtains her licensure after graduation.  In the two weeks that I have not been physically in the building, Kiomi has risen to the occasion and has taken ownership of the various tasks and responsibilities that the Social Services department manages.  She is truly getting an authentic experience for the remainder of her practicum, and she has met the challenges head on with her continued grace and professionalism.  The fact that the administrator of the facility is willing to go for several months without a full-time social worker in the building speaks volumes of the impression that Kiomi has made on her and the rest of the interdisciplinary team.  Kiomi has worked diligently to complete assessments timely, engage with the residents and their family members, and is mastering the complexities of discharge planning.  She has been leading Care Plan meetings and communicating with various vendors and service providers to effectively coordinate services such as home health when our residents discharge to home. She does everything I have asked her to and has received feedback openly and then works to correct as needed.  She has shown excellent leadership skills by conducting the care plan meetings, in the way she interacts with the interdisciplinary team and the other staff members, and in her advocacy for our residents.  Kiomi has fully engaged in Supervision with me where we have discussed many of the various ethical issues that have arisen thus far, setting boundaries, and practicing self-care.  I couldn't be prouder of Kiomi Hernandez, and I feel that she deserves to be recognized as an Outstanding Student.

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  Outstanding MSW Field Student - Billy Streu

  Academic Accomplishments - Billy Streu will be graduating with a 4.0 GPA. He has been accepted into membership of the honor societies of Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Alpha, and Alpha Chi.

  Teaching Accomplishments - Billy was a speaker at the NASW-TX Annual Conference, teaching a seminar on Financial Social Work. He has also conducted webinars on Financial Social Work for the Organization of Student Social Workers at Texas State and on the Texas Legislature and multisector coalitions for Texas Homeless Network’s Homelessness and Housing Academy.

  Research Accomplishments - Billy has authored several publications:

  · The Case for Financial Social Work for the publication, The New Social Worker

  · The Importance of Financial Social Work for the inaugural issue of Texas State’s School of Social Work peer-reviewed journal, Louder Than Words

  · Let’s Talk About Zoning, a blog post for Texas Homeless Network’s website

  Service Accomplishments - Billy serves as a Homeless and Housing Advocate for Texas Homeless Network. He is a member of the Research Committee for the Center for Financial Social Work. He is also a member of the Membership Committee for NASW-TX.

• Fall 2023

  Outstanding Field Instructor: Andrea Menchaca, UT Charter School System

  Andrea has been a phenomenal supervisor, mentor, teacher, and support system for the duration of my final field internship placement. She has been consistently available for me to reach out to her regarding any questions, concerns, or supports I may need. I don't see her in person everyday, but her willingness to be available for my support has truly and positively impacted my ability to grow, learn, and succeed. There have been many moments when I left a session with a client(s) where I was feeling a lot of emotions and needed to debrief and Andrea would be on the phone with me within minutes. She has provided invaluable feedback and has allowed me a safe space to reflect and grow. Her feedback gives me the confidence to go into a session with clients and feel like I am making a difference. Our weekly supervision, even the occasional group supervision, has been one of my favorite tasks the past four months. She has created such a warm, welcoming, and safe space for me to ask questions, receive feedback, and engage in some difficult self-reflection, all to become a better social worker and a better person. Andrea's commitment to social work values and ethics is something that all social workers should strive for. While she doesn't work directly with clients, her purpose in every decision she makes is with the well-being of her client population at the top. Andrea has provided me with many opportunities to advance my professional development. I had the opportunity to run over 10 SEL groups with elementary-aged students, engage with interdisciplinary teams at a residential treatment center for youth, and receive Neurosequential Model of Education certification. She has put so much focus into my professional development so that I can enter the workforce feeling competent, confident, and willing to always learn. In terms of Andrea demonstrating social work best practices, I want to touch on her views on self care. As many people know, this profession has high burnout rates, and an important way to combat burnout is through self care. Andrea has continuously modeled the importance of self care by creating boundaries, spending time with her family, and taking small weekend trips away to do things she enjoys. She emphasizes the importance of taking care of yourself, so that you can best support other people.

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  Outstanding Task Supervisor: None

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  Outstanding MSW Field Student: Maddie Garza

  Maddie Garza has really grown during her time at NASW-TX. Her previous placement at CIS was purely focused on direct practice, and it was a large jump to the macro space. But she dove right into the work, and has   truly excelled in all of these areas. Maddie attends a variety of coalition meetings, and was our initial lead point on an interstate workgroup focused on immigration. She is the primary director of an initiative exploring a change to the statute in Texas that bars individuals with certain criminal histories from obtaining a social work license in the state. She is reaching out to other professions, including psychologists, doctors and nurses, and working on bringing everyone to the table to try and build a collaborative effort to change the law. She is also the main contact at NASW-TX with a member-led workgroup aimed at introducing rules around whistleblowers at the licensing board. She attended our state conference and helped work with a variety of volunteers and other staff in registration, session support and administrative tasks. She also collaborated with another intern on drafting a set of over 10 forms for intake, consent, referrals, and more for clinical social workers in group or private practice. Maddie has been working hybrid, and is excellent at balancing working autonomously on her own, collaborating with other interns online or at the office, and meeting deadlines and ensuring her hours and work are done checked in and transparently.

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  Outstanding BSW Field Student: Jada Burrell

  Jada has been an exceptional field student. Ours is a brand-new program on the TXST campus, and she has shown a great deal of enthusiasm and flexibility in her practicum while supporting our students. Jada had only minimal experience with our population (people with intellectual and developmental disabilities), but has been open to instruction and has been eager to ask questions and learn as much as she can about best practices. She has taken initiative about learning how policies and social structures impact our students. She has been consistent in her documentation as well, and has been diligent about attending and being an active participant in all supervisory and staff meetings. We have begun talking about her plans after graduation, and I have found her to be wise and thoughtful in her approach to her future career. I strongly believe that Jada will be an outstanding social worker.