Excellence in Social Work Practice Award
Tara Montgomery
Presented to a student who best exemplifies excellence in social work practice each year. Students are nominated by field faculty and field placement site supervisors, who select the student whose graduate field education performance exemplifies the highest standards of competence, creativity, and commitment.
Tara Montgomery from Strengthening Children Youth and Families (SCYF) completed her second-year internship at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center-Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program, working with adolescent clients struggling with issues such as suicidal ideation, social anxiety, self-harming behaviors and extremely low self esteem. Tara’s faculty and field instructor commended her for personifying the “art” of clinical practice by integrating creativity and cultural responsiveness to help clients engage in the healing process in a way that matters to them. Tara was sought-after by her peers in partner learning opportunities for her stepwise approach to differential diagnosis and case formulation. She has a mature clinical eye and a powerful commitment to engaging clients with integrity and respect as well as both cultural and professional humility.
James and Khadija Midgley Doctoral Dissertation Award
Stephania Hayes
"Conceptualization and Measurement of Helping-Related Stress in Peer Support Specialists"
Steven Segal, dissertation chair; Jennifer Skeem; co-chair
Established in 2008 by Professor and Dean Emeritus Jim Midgley and his wife Khadija to honor outstanding doctoral dissertations.
James Midgley Leadership Award
Susana Cuevas, Sofia Jeanpierre, Yesul Mun
Presented to an undergraduate student or students exemplifying outstanding leadership qualities during their career at Berkeley.
Susana Cuevas, Sofia Jeanpierre, Yesul Mun served as a core leadership team this year for SWAGG, the Social Welfare Association for the Greater Good - the undergraduate student group for social welfare majors. They are deeply committed to Berkeley Social Welfare and to trying to build a social and academic community among our students.
Ralph M. Kramer Award
Elizabeth Clendenen, Jacob Fraker, Lily Mejia
The Kramer Award was established in 2004 by Professor Emeritus Ralph Kramer, to honor an outstanding MSW student in the Strengthening Organizations and Communities (SOC) concentration .
Elizabeth has been very active in school governance on the MSW committee for 2 years and on the Dean's Student Advisory Board.
Lily has been very active running SWGA (the Social Welfare Graduate Assembly).
Jacob has been very active in Assemblymember Eggman's office, and he wrote a bill that was sponsored by the Assembly Member. Jacob is also very active in advocating on behalf of people with cystic fibrosis
Social Welfare Dean’s Award for Academic Achievement
Paul Simpson
Presented to the student or students who, in the opinion of the faculty, has/have achieved the greatest degree of academic performance among undergraduates.
Paul Simpson is graduating with a 4.0 GPA, which he has maintained throughout his entire undergraduate career at Berkeley. He will be joining the MSW Program in the fall.