MSW Students Receive School’s Social Justice ScholarshipsCongratulations to Mara Servaites and Carla McNeill, master's of social work students at the School of Social Work, who are the recipients of the School's Social Justice Scholarship. Servaites is a first-year full-time MSW student from Virginia who is studying adult health and mental health services at the School and is also getting her non-profit leadership certificate. She has worked as the program director for the New River Valley Mental Health Association, and with the Virginia General Assembly to pass a bill extending mandated parent education programs for individuals considering divorce or separation. Servaintes also co-founded a non-profit organization, Parent Education Network, which assists local agencies with worker training and mandated model education programs for separating or divorced parents. McNeill is a final year part-time student in the School's program in Fayetteville, who is studying management and community practice for families and children. She works with the Cumberland County Department of Social Services, coordinating efforts to make their services more accessible to the Latino community. After graduation in May, McNeill hopes to continue working with Cumberland County DSS in an official paid position to promote continuity of services. The Social Justice Scholarship Fund was established with a generous gift from the Edelman Foundation, created by David A. Edelman, a school alumnus. The scholarships provide support to MSW students from minority or disadvantaged populations, who have overcome identifiable disadvantages or economic hardships, or who wish to work with underserved populations. Preference is given to students in financial need, in good academic standing, and who bring diversity to our school. |
