Click here to view the full 2025 Equity & Inclusion Student Award Recipients press release

About the Award

The NASW-NC Equity and Inclusion Award provides an annual monetary award ($1,500 per student depending on award funds) and NASW membership to Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) students of color enrolled in a Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited social work program in North Carolina. This is an award that supports the inclusion of a diverse chapter membership and is open to current and not yet members of NASW North Carolina.

The NASW-NC Equity and Inclusion Committee has developed this scholarship in recognition of the overarching racism, historical and current oppression, disenfranchisement, and exclusion of social workers of color in our field. The Chapter is committed to holding our profession, and one another, accountable through efforts including fiscally supporting social workers of color entering the field and ensuring a continued, rich legacy of contributions by and for communities of color throughout our state. This scholarship is one effort of accountability towards reducing racism in the profession and is in alignment with NASW's Anti-racism statement and the Social Work Grand Challenges focus on Eliminating Racism.

Award Criteria

Applicants must:

• Identify as a student of color
• Be enrolled in a Bachelor of Social Work or Master of Social Work program from a CSWE-accredited program in the state of North Carolina
• Provide evidence of high academic performance via current social work GPA
• Illustrate a desire to further Equity & Inclusion in your current or future social work practice
• Display leadership, volunteerism, and/or lived experiences relevant to promoting social work ethics and values
• Have a financial need
• Demonstrate strong written communication skills per submitted essay
  

Selection of Recipients

All completed applications received will be reviewed by the NASW-NC Equity and Inclusion Committee, Award Subcommittee. The Award Subcommittee will review each application and select winners based upon the Award Criteria noted above. The award winners will be featured in an article in the NASW-NC Newsletter and on the NASW-NC website. Eligible students are limited to one NASW-NC award per year.

Award Administration

This is a cash award administered directly to student recipients. The NASW-NC Equity and Inclusion Award Fund is held by the NASW Foundation in Washington D.C. All donations made to the fund are tax-deductible. The North Carolina chapter of NASW donates the costs for the student winners’ NASW membership, award administration and fundraising.

Application Requirements

• Identify as a person of color

• Attend a CSWE-Accredited social work program located in North Carolina
  

• Submit a completed Application form

• Biographical essay (no more than 3 typed, double-spaced pages). The essay should:

  1. Illustrate a desire to further Equity & Inclusion in your current or future social work practice
  2. Address your leadership, volunteerism, and/or lived experiences relevant to promoting social work ethics and values
  3. Communicate your financial need
  4. Demonstrate strong written communication skills
     

• One professional letter of recommendation (SIGNED by the author) and on official letterhead (from faculty member, advisor, employer or someone familiar with your commitment to social work)

• Minimum of 3.0 GPA

• Official or Unofficial Transcript

• Resume

Deadline to apply: February 15

Click here to make a donation to the NASW-NC Equity and Inclusion Student Award Fund. Your donation is 100% tax deductible and 100% of your donation goes towards awards.

2025 Award Recipients

Stefany Barrera-Marin– BSW Student

Htay Meh– MSW Student

Esmeralda Ontiveros– BSW Student

Maria Siquina– BSW Student

Learn more about the 2025 NASW-NC Equity and Inclusion Student Award recipients here.

2024 Award Recipients

Rose Amburose – BSW Student

Evangeline Eure – MSW Student

Jacob Hoyt – MSW Student

Nylia Jeffreys – BSW Student

Amaria Rankins - BSW Student

Learn more about the 2024 NASW-NC Equity and Inclusion Student Award recipients here.

2023 Award Recipients

Alecia Taylor – MSW Student

Avianna Hopkins – MSW Student

Colt Valones – BSW Student

Kashayia Coltrane – BSW Student

Learn more about the 2023 NASW-NC Equity and Inclusion Student Award recipients here.

2022 Award Recipients

Bridgette Agbozo, UNC Chapel Hill – MSW Student

Jessica Bravo, UNC Charlotte – MSW Student

Nakyah McNeal, UNC Wilmington – BSW Student

John Moss, Johnson C. Smith University – MSW Student

Marisa Tatum, UNC Wilmington – BSW Student

Learn more about the 2022 NASW-NC Equity and Inclusion Student Award recipients here.