ALUMNI AWARDS
NOMINATION
SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT
Alumni Awards
Rules and Procedures
Send nomination form and supportive material to:
Alumni Awards Screening Committee
Department of Social Work
The University of Toledo
2801 W. Bancroft Street, MS 119
Toledo OH 43606
The University of Toledo, Department of Social Work has established three awards to recognize
the achievements of its alumni. Through these awards, the Department, the College of Health
Science and Human Service, and The University of Toledo express pride in and appreciation for
these individuals and their service to society and the profession of social work. These awards are
the highest honors bestowed by the Department of Social Work and reflect the fulfillment of the
mission of UT’s Department of Social Work:
Through particular attention to the strengths and empowerment perspectives and the promotion
of social and economic justice, the social work program is committed to teaching and furthering
the development of the knowledge, practice skills, art and science of social work in order to
prepare students to hear, understand, include, and effectively respond to all voices, with
particular attention to those of the poor, the vulnerable, and the oppressed.
The alumni awards are presented each year at the department’s student celebration, which
usually is held on the Friday evening prior to the May commencement ceremony.
Awards

BSW Practitioner Alumni Award: awarded to one of our BSW (or BA in Social Work,
prior to 2001) alumni whose highest earned degree is at the baccalaureate level

BSW Alumni Award: awarded to one of our BSW (or BA in Social Work, prior to
2001) alumni who later earned a graduate degree other than an MSW from UT

MSW Alumni Award: awarded to one of our MSW graduates
Award Criteria
In addition to the educational criteria described in the paragraph above, the nominee:
 must have made a significant contribution to society and/or the profession of social work
in at least one of the following areas: social and economic justice, advocacy, community
development, education, policy development, research, service delivery, or other areas of
importance to the profession. The nominee need not have received public acclaim.
 must have made their contribution to society and/or the profession of social work after
their graduation from The University of Toledo with the BSW or MSW
 must have practiced in a manner that exemplifies social work values
 may have made their contributions to society and/or the profession of social work
through a one-time activity or multiple activities over a period of years
 may not have previously won the same award
Who May Nominate
Nominations may be made by anyone except the nominee or a member of their family.
Information to be Submitted
A valid nomination package will consist of the following:

A completed Alumni Award Nomination Form

A completed Alumni Award Nominee Release Form signed by the nominee. This form
may be excluded only with the consent of the Chair of the Alumni Awards Screening
Committee.

Nominee’s current resume or vita, if possible

Up to three (3) letters of support (optional)

Other relevant supporting documentation, such as news articles or copies of articles
authored by the nominee (optional)
All nomination packages will be maintained in the Department of Social Work for at least three
(3) years. Nomination packages for award recipients will be maintained in the department
permanently. All nomination package information will be kept confidential by the Alumni
Awards Screening Committee.
Nomination Deadline
Nominations will be accepted at any time. However, the screening committee will consider only
those nominations received by 5 p.m. on January 31 of the year in which the awards are to be
presented. Nominations received after January 31 will be considered for an award the following
year.
Selection and Notification Process
The Alumni Awards Screening Committee is composed of the following members:

Two members of the department’s Student Recognition Event Committee, to be selected
by that committee. One of these members will chair the Alumni Awards Screening
Committee.

One-two members of the department’s Advisory Committee, to be selected by that
committee

One member of the Student Social Work Organization, to be selected by the organization

One alumnus of the BSW program, to be selected by department faculty and staff

One alumnus of the MSW program, to be selected by department faculty and staff
Screening Committee members will serve one-year terms. There is no limit to the number of
consecutive terms a member may serve.
The Alumni Awards Screening Committee will meet during the first two weeks of February each
year to consider all valid nominations received during the 12 months preceding February 1st.
Generally, they will recommend one recipient for each of the three awards. However, the
committee may choose not to recommend a recipient for an award in a particular year if there are
no nominees for that award or the committee decides none of the nominees adequately meets the
award criteria. In some years, the committee may choose to recommend more than one recipient
for a particular award (essentially declaring a tie).
The Screening Committee will forward its recommendations for award recipients to the Chair of
the Department of Social Work. Department faculty and staff will vote on these
recommendations at its next department meeting.
Following the confirmation by the Department of award recipients, all nominees will be notified
in writing of whether they won the award. The Committee will attempt to make these
notifications by March 1. Awardees will be invited and strongly encouraged to attend the annual
Student Celebration Event, where they will be introduced and presented with their awards. The
Celebration usually is held on the Friday evening preceding UT’s Spring Convocation ceremony.
In addition, the Committee will notify each nominator of whether their nominee won an award.
The nominator of each award recipient will be invited to attend the Student Celebration Event.
Additional Responsibilities of the Alumni Awards Screening Committee
In addition to recommending award recipients to the Department of Social Work and notifying
nominees and nominators of the disposition of their nominations, the Screening Committee will:

release a call for nominations each Fall (primary responsibility lies with Student
Recognition Committee representatives on the screening committee)

coordinate the awards presentations with the Student Recognition Event Committee

work with other members of the Department, College, and University to publicize the
awards and their recipients

attend the student celebration event
The University of Toledo
Department of Social Work
Alumni Awards Nomination Form
Nomination category (check one):
 BSW Practitioner Alumni Award
 BSW Alumni Award
 MSW Alumni Award
Please provide as much biographical information as possible to help the screening committee
with their decision. If possible, attach a copy of the nominee’s resume or vita.
While nominations may be accepted at any time, only those nominations received by 5 p.m. on
January 31 of a given year will be considered for that year’s award.
Information about the Nominee
Nominee’s Name
University of Toledo BSW or MSW Class Year(s): BSW
_____ MSW ____________
Degrees earned after receipt of BSW from UT, if applicable:
______________________________
Nominee’s Home Address
Nominee’s Telephone Numbers: Home:
Work:
Cell:
Nominee’s E-mail Address:
The nominee is:
 Living
 Deceased
Reason for Nomination: Please include detailed information about the individual nominee.
The more information the selection committee has to consider, the better the opportunity for
recognition.
____________
(please attach additional pages as needed)
Please attach any supportive material to this nomination form. Examples of supportive
material include but are not limited to:
 Nominee Release Form (required unless its absence is approved by the Chair of the
screening committee)
 Nominee’s resume or vita (include if possible)
 Up to three (3) letters of support
 Samples of media coverage
 Documents authored by the nominee
Information about the Person Making the Nomination
Your Name
Your Signature
Date
Your Address
Your Telephone Numbers: Home:
Work:
Cell:
Your E-mail address:
Your Relationship to the Nominee and/or the Department of Social Work:
(Individuals may be nominated by anyone except themselves or a member of their family)
The University of Toledo
Department of Social Work
Alumni Awards Nominee Release Form
The University of Toledo, Department of Social Work has established three awards to recognize
the achievements of its alumni. Through these awards, the Department, the College of Health
Science and Human Service, and The University of Toledo express pride in and appreciation for
these individuals and their service to society and the profession of social work. These awards are
the highest honors bestowed by the Department of Social Work and reflect the fulfillment of the
mission of UT’s Department of Social Work:
Through particular attention to the strengths and empowerment perspectives and the promotion
of social and economic justice, the social work program is committed to teaching and furthering
the development of the knowledge, practice skills, art and science of social work in order to
prepare students to hear, understand, include, and effectively respond to all voices, with
particular attention to those of the poor, the vulnerable, and the oppressed.
The alumni awards are presented each year at the department’s student celebration, which
usually is held on the Friday evening prior to the May commencement ceremony.
You have been nominated for the following award by
(Nominator: please write in your name on the line above and check the appropriate box
below.)
 BSW Practitioner Alumni Award
 BSW Alumni Award
 MSW Alumni Award
You are encouraged to provide your nominator with information about your achievements that
will enhance your potential to receive an award. In addition, please provide a copy of your
current resume or vita to your nominator. Please read and complete this release form to indicate
your willingness to be nominated under the following conditions:
1. Information included in your nomination package will be kept confidential by the Alumni
Awards Screening Committee. All nomination packages will be maintained in the
Department of Social Work for at least three (3) years. Nomination packages for award
recipients will be maintained in the department permanently.
2. You will allow information in your nomination package and other personal information
gathered for this purpose to be used for publicity and promotional purposes. If you are
selected as an award recipient, you may identify to the Screening Committee any specific
information you wish to be excluded from publicity materials.
3. If you are selected as an award recipient, you are strongly encouraged to attend the
Department of Social Work’s annual Student Celebration, where you will be introduced
and receive your award.
I agree to be nominated for a UT Department of Social Work Alumni Award and to the above
conditions.
Name
Signature
___ date
__________________
Send nomination form and supportive material to:
Alumni Awards Screening Committee
Department of Social Work
The University of Toledo
2801 W. Bancroft Street, MS 119
Toledo OH 43606