A Virtual Celebration of Leadership and Community

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NYU Silver’s 12th Annual Student Awards celebration was held virtually, with both presenters and recipients sharing their remarks on video. It was the first time since the awards were established in 2009 that the honorees’ families and friends as well as NYU Silver faculty, staff, and fellow students were unable to gather in person to recognize their exemplary contributions. As Dean Neil B. Guterman said in his virtual welcome, “It is obviously harder to build community and stay connected in the virtual world and in the midst of the pandemic we are facing. In this very stressful and challenging time, it is all the more important to recognize the particularly special accomplishments of some of our students. In celebrating these few, and participating in this event, we are honoring and helping to uplift our entire school community.”

Congratulations to all of the honorees:

Dean’s Award for Innovation in Social Work Practice

Fostering Healing and Community | Kelly Ancharski, Crystal Carroll, Laraib Humayun, Tang En Koh, and Lauren Stair, all MSW ’20

Diane Greenstein Memorial Fellowship

Yunyu (Kathy) Xiao, PhD ’20

Distinguished Contribution to Student Engagement Award

Dr. Aminda Heckman

Dr. Linda Lausell-Bryant

Excellence in Leadership Award

Celine Chong, BS ’20

Tang En Koh, MSW ’20

Aida Sidi, BS ’20

Global Social Work Award

Ouwen Jiang, BS ’20

Smita Kudaisya, MSW ’20

Outstanding Student Program Award

“Karate Chop for Womxn of Color” | Asian Pacific Islander/American Social Work Students for Change, Black Women’s Social Work Coalition, I Recognize You, and Latinx Social Work Student Organization

Robert Moore Award for Excellence in Scholarship

Kendall Atterbury, PhD ’20

Meghan Romanelli, PhD ’19

Silver Citizenship Award

Jaime Baumann, MSW ’20

Kaela Vecchia-Zeitz, BS ’20

Silver Spirit Award

Rebecca Marbach, MSW ’20

Maria Pellicier, BS ’20

Silver Student Organization of the Year Award

Black Women’s Social Work Coalition

Undergraduate Student Government Association

Social Justice Award

Kelly Ancharski, MSW ’20

Natalie Asalgado, MSW ’20

We also wish to congratulate our Undergraduate Student Government Association, led by co-presidents Celine Chong and Aida Sidi, both BS ’20, for receiving NYU’s Outstanding Service Award for Inclusion and Advocacy. The award recognizes an individual and/or team of students who has promoted social justice and/or fostered understanding between diverse constituencies through valuing diversity and appreciating multiple identities, either on campus or in the wider community.

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 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 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.