The School of Social Work recognizes its most distinguished alumni through the Moya M. Duplica Distinguished Alumni Award, the Bright Star Award, and the Emerging Leader Award. There is an open call for nominations each spring. Anyone may nominate a School alum for these recognition awards. Join our mailing list or watch this page for the next nomination period.

Emerging Leader Award

This new award recognizes School alumni who have emerged as exceptional leaders within their organizations and communities since graduating within the last five years and show dedication and impact in the field of social work.

• 2022 Bella Luz Mendez

Bright Star Award

This award (previously known as Early Career Achievement Award) recognizes School alumni who, within 5 to 20 years of receiving their last School of Social Work degree, are doing innovative work in their early career, demonstrating influence within their field and making a notable impact on the profession in one or more of the areas of research, administration, direct practice, policy, advocacy and community, and public service.

For Bright Star/Early Career Achievement, the award has gone to:

• 2022 Roxana Norouzi
• 2016 Nicole Vallestero Keenan
• 2015 Angenie McCleary
• 2014 Michael T. Kilmer

Moya M. Duplica Distinguished Alumni Award

This award recognizes School alumni who have demonstrated a career of exceptional service, social innovation, or professional leadership locally, nationally, or internationally in the areas of research, administration, education, direct practice, policy advocacy, and/or community and public service. Past Distinguished Alumni winners are listed to the right.

Please note that awards have not been given in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors. We are thrilled to bring back the awards in 2022!

Moya M. Duplica Distinguished Alumni Award recipients: