About the Award

For over twenty years, dedicated NASW member Kelly Spangler, LCSW, MSW, MPA practiced as a public health social worker in both micro and macro settings as a direct service provider, program developer, consultant, administrator and educator. She was an invaluable advocate for social workers in public health and continually encouraged North Carolina Health Departments to hire social workers and offer public health social work services in their communities.

The NASW-NC Kelly Spangler Student Award provides an annual monetary award and NASW membership to Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) students enrolled in a Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited social work program in North Carolina. This is an award that supports social work students in North Carolina who intend to pursue a career in public health, health care and/or integrated health care social work. Kelly Spangler was a fierce advocate for social justice and advancement of policies that advances the social work profession and enhances human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. 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.

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

Award Criteria

Applicants of the NASW-NC Kelly Spangler Student Award must be attending or admitted as a full-time student in a Bachelor of Social Work or Master of Social Work program from a CSWE accredited program in the state of North Carolina. Each applicant must

• demonstrate high academic performance;
• involvement in student organizations, social work-related activities and/or service to the community;
• have experience and/or interest in the following: public health social work; health, integrated and/or collaborative care; social justice; and/or political action.
  
  

Selection of Recipients

All completed applications received will be reviewed by the NASW-NC Kelly Spangler Student Award Committee. The committee will review each application and select winners. 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

The NASW-NC Kelly Spangler Student Award 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

1. Application form
2. Biographical essay (no more than two typed pages).
   • The essay should address social work career goals; social work-related experience and/or service to the community; experience and/or interest in the following: public health social work; social work in health, integrated and/or collaborative care
   • The essay should address a commitment to social justice and political action and/or description of how social justice guides your social work practice
3. One letter of recommendation (from faculty member, advisor, employer or someone familiar with your commitment to social work)
4. Minimum of 2.5 GPA
5. Official or Unofficial Transcript
6. Resume

Application deadline: December 15

2025 Award Recipients

Pazia Harbin, Mars Hill University & Kate McCarthy, UNC Chapel Hill