SSA is proud of the many thousands of alumni who are working at all levels to improve the quality of life of vulnerable individuals, families, and communities. Each year, the SSA Alumni Association recognizes distinguished alumni during Alumni Weekend with one of two awards. These awards – the Edith Abbott Award and the Elizabeth Butler Award – are given biannually on a rotating basis. A social service agency or a program is recognized annually with the Distinctive Innovation in Social Services Award.
Nominations for the 2014 Elizabeth Butler Award and Distinctive Innovations Award are due Friday, March 28, 2014.
The Edith Abbott Award recognizes an SSA alum for distinguished service to society and for outstanding professional contributions at the local, national, or international levels. Honoring lifetime achievement, exceptional leadership in an agency or within a community; meaningful contributions through research or publications; or demonstrated creativity in traditional, non-traditional, or innovative approaches to practice, award recipients reflect the mission of SSA and a demonstrated, on-going relationship with the School and a commitment to its growth.
The Edith Abbott Award will be presented during Alumni Weekend, 2013.
The Elizabeth Butler Award honors one recent graduate who has shown exceptional promise in the field of social work. Nominees must have earned an AM or PhD from SSA not more than 10 years ago, and no less than five. A successful candidate for this award will show a strong commitment to social change; leadership in an agency or community; creativity in non-traditional or innovative approaches to practice; contributions to the field through research and publications and/or demonstrated professional skills. Click here to view a video of last year's winner.
Social service agencies or programs that demonstrate innovation in their approaches and practices generating sustained results for their clients and enhanced learning for their employees and the field, are recognized with the Distinctive Innovation in Social Services Award. Click here to view a video of last year's winner.
In 2012, SSA established the Dolores Norton Endowed Scholarship in Early Child Development to honor the distinguished career of Dolores “Dodie” Norton, Samuel Deutsch Professor, Emerita. This scholarship was established to support students who will advance the development of knowledge that will enhance the field of early child development pioneered by Professor Dolores “Dodie” Norton. Professor Norton is renowned for original scholarship and her highly personalized teaching that spanned four decades. She is completing a first-of-its-kind, 20-year longitudinal study of minority children from low-income families living on Chicago’s South Side. “Children at Risk: The Infant Child Development Project” is unparalleled in its design and scope in documenting the influence of parenting styles, norms, language and behaviors that predict successful development and learning from newborn to age three.
Students selected to become Norton Scholars will demonstrate superior academic achievement, excellence in their field work, and distinctive contributions to peers as well as to the mission of SSA. The first student selected in 2012 was Megan Flynn, AM’13. Click here to see a video about the award.