NASW Foundation Announces Consuelo W. Gosnell Memorial Scholarship Recipients

University Students from Across the United States Receive Scholarships

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The National Association of Social Workers Foundation (NASWF) has announced the 2012 Consuelo W. Gosnell Memorial Scholarship recipients. The Gosnell Scholarships are awarded for one academic year to students who have demonstrated a commitment to working with, or a special affinity for American Indian, Alaskan Native, or Latino populations. These candidates have also demonstrated a commitment to working with public or voluntary non-profit agencies or local grassroots organizations. They are all Master of Social Work candidates.

This year’s awardees include:

• Amber Price Murphy, University of Southern California: Ms. Price Murphy is a member of the Choctaw Nation in Oklahoma. Among her efforts has been providing behavior therapy for children diagnosed with autism.
• Louise Reina, University of Southern California: Ms. Reina has volunteered with the Peace Corps and in Latino mentoring program at the University of Michigan.
• Beatriz Aguirre, Arizona State University: Ms. Aguirre continues to work for comprehensive immigration reform. She plans to pursue a Master of Social Work degree in Policy, Administration and Community Management.
• Lacina Onco, Boston College: Ms. Onco grew up on the Shinnecock Reservation and is a member of the Kiowa Nation. She has worked with indigenous peoples in the US and Australia, and intends to bring that experience to her future efforts.
• Linda Sookhoo, Stony Brook University: Ms. Sookhoo has worked with Dominican populations in New York City and Poospatuck and Shinnecock Indian Reservation students and wants to work toward equitable healthcare and assist in empowerment initiatives in marginalized populations.
• Lisa Sciarani, Columbia University: Ms. Sciarani has served Latino populations in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile and Argentina and seeks to inspire cross-cultural communication and serve multiple cultures.
• Suzanne Lino Camacho, Washington University in Saint Louis: Ms. Lino Camacho has worked with research teams examining the challenges and strengths of Latino families in the US. She has also worked with helping schools understand the needs of migrant families.
• Gabrielle Mohr, University of Denver: Ms. Mohr has volunteered with several organizations, and has advocated for the Colorado DREAM Act.
• Alina Perez, Long Island University: Ms. Perez has worked with impoverished populations on Long Island, including translating for Latino clients in order to help make the needs of Latino communities better understood.  She has also helped to educate social workers how to best meet the needs of veterans.
• Rebecca Roepke, University of Buffalo: Ms. Roepke has advocated for Indigenous issues at local, federal and international levels.  She plans to continue her work with Native American youth and is interested in conducting research to inform practice in Native communities.

The Gosnell Scholarship was established through a bequest of Consuelo Gosnell, a social work practitioner who was born n Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and died in Texas in 1987. Gosnell was a champion of civil and human rights and worked diligently to ameliorate conditions for critically underserved American Indians and Latinos in the Southwest. Gosnell practiced for many years in federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

For more information about the NASW Foundation or educational scholarships, please visit www.naswfoundation.org or e-mail naswfoundation@naswdc.org.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW), in Washington, DC, is the largest membership organization of professional social workers with nearly 145,000 members. It promotes, develops, and protects the practice of social work and social workers. NASW also seeks to enhance the well-being of individuals, families, and communities through its advocacy. 

The National Association of Social Workers Foundation (NASWF) is a charitable organization created to enhance the well-being of individuals, families, and communities through the advancement of social work practice.