Outstanding Students Honored at Annual Awards Ceremony

On April 20, 2019, faculty, staff, students, family, and friends gathered at NYU Kimmel Center for University Life for NYU Silver’s 11th Annual Student Awards celebrating individuals and organizations who have made exemplary contributions to the School, the profession, and society.

Congratulations to all of the honorees:

Dean’s Award for Innovation in Social Work Practice

Mental Health Anonymous | Maria Elizabeth Luisi, MSW Program

Diane Greenstein Memorial Fellowship

Liwei Zhang, PhD Program

Distinguished Contribution to Student Engagement Award

Dr. Darcey Merritt

Excellence in Leadership Award

Qinying Chu MSW Program

Deborah Lee, BS Program

Olivia Byrd, MSW Program

Global Social Work Award

Shamire Juste, MSW Program

Akirah Limthaveemongkol, BS Program

Outstanding Student Program Award

"Taking Action Against Racism at Silver" | Silver Affinity Collective

Robert Moore Award for Excellence in Scholarship

Dr. Mimi Choy-Brown, PhD Program

Silver Citizenship Award

Taylor Healey, MSW Program

Bobbie-Angela Wong, MSW Program

Ouwen Jiang, BS Program

Silver Spirit Award

Stephanie Gray, MSW Program

Mary Burns, MSW Program

Capri Christianson, BS Program

Silver Student Organization of the Year Award

Undergraduate Student Government Association

Social Justice Award

Anna Nathanson, MSW Program

Poesis Silagan-Bush, MSW Program

Praha Lamisa, BS Program

Congratulations are also in order for the recipients of NYU President’s Service Awards, which recognize the distinguished achievements of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students and student organizations for their promotion of learning, leadership, and quality of student life at New York University.

NYU President’s Service Award for Community Service and Civic Engagement

Idan Falek, BS Program

Liane Ma, BS Program

NYU President’s Service Award for Student Leadership and Campus Programming

Lisa Schlosberg, MSW Program

Silver Affinity Collective

About NYU Silver’s Student Awards

The Dean's Award for Innovation in Social Work Practice honors a current student who demonstrates creativity and innovation in social work practice through a project, proposal or paper. The project, proposal or paper should include an assessment to identify change or growth potential in an agency or community and a creative plan for implementation of that improvement. To be considered for this award, projects must have been implemented or be in the process of being implemented. Students are encouraged to nominate themselves for this award by submitting a paper or written description of their own innovative service project. This award includes a $150 prize. Students nominated for this award should be in good academic standing. Further qualifications include status as an undergraduate or a graduate student with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

The Diane Greenstein Memorial Fellowship is a $5000 cash award presented to a doctoral student who has completed an exemplary dissertation proposal. The Fellowship was established in 2001 by the family, friends, and colleagues of Diane S. Greenstein, a social work PhD candidate at New York University who died in 2000 before she was able to complete the doctoral program.

The Distinguished Contribution to Student Engagement award recognizes faculty members who have demonstrated a deep commitment to the growth of Silver students through their engagement with students and student life outside of the classroom. This includes but is not limited to advising a student group, engagement with career and professional development programming, facilitation of educational programming outside of the classroom, and the tireless advocacy for, mentorship of, and/or empowerment of all students.

The Excellence in Leadership Award honors students who have displayed exceptional leadership amongst their peers and whose work directly contributes to the development of NYU Silver’s academic, professional, and social community. The awardees have shown commitment to student life, social justice, and the social work profession.

The Global Social Work Award award recipient demonstrates a strong commitment to enhancing social work practice within the context of global interdependence, social work engagement abroad, and/or practice with diverse globally connected populations in the United States.

The Outstanding Student Program Award honors one program, event, or initiative facilitated by a student organization that promoted the mission of NYU Silver while enhancing the community and improving student life at the School. This program, event, or initiative has exemplified dedication to enhancement of student well-being by successfully carrying out its purpose. Sponsoring organizations nominated for this award should be a registered organization with the Office of Student and Alumni Affairs.

The Robert Moore Award for Excellence in Scholarship award is a $1000 cash award presented to a doctoral student whose defended dissertation meets high standards of scholarship. The Award was established in 2009 in recognition of the many contributions to the PhD Program and the Silver School made by Dr. Robert Moore, a faculty member at the Silver School of Social Work who died in 2008.  

The Silver Citizenship Award honors current members of the student body who demonstrate exemplary dedication to a community, professional, and/or national organization through their personal commitment of time and energy, volunteerism, and leadership. Awardees will be honored for their outstanding work on behalf of an organization or cause outside of academics or field placements.

The Silver Spirit Award honors current members of the student body whose involvement throughout their careers at the NYU Silver School of Social Work demonstrates exemplary pride in and dedication to the School through their personal commitment of time and energy, volunteerism, scholarship, and leadership – thus reflecting positively on fellow students and the Silver Social Work community at-large. Further qualifications include status as an undergraduate or a graduate student; leadership in co-curricular activities; and actions that embody the spirit of the Silver School as an active volunteer and leader.

The Silver Student Organization of the Year Award goes to a Silver student organization that has made a significant impact on the NYU Silver community and embodies the mission and values of Silver such as equity, inclusion, and social justice through their efforts and programming (including, but not limited to ongoing meetings and events). This organization has provided opportunities for social engagement, civic discourse, and promoting community development within Silver School of Social Work.

The Social Justice Award recognizes the student that best exemplifies the values of the Silver School of Social Work: to advance the cause of social justice and promote the ideals of a humane society. This student has demonstrated a commitment and dedication to social justice by promoting knowledge about oppression and diversity, equality of opportunity, meaningful participation in civic life, and social change efforts. Further qualifications include status as an undergraduate or a graduate student and actions that embody the spirit of social justice.