NASW Virginia Annual Awards Nominations​
Every year at the Annual Conference in March, NASW Virginia and Metro DC announce up to five award recipients that each chapter has chosen for their professional excellence and commitment to the values of social work:
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Lifetime Achievement Award
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Social Worker of the Year
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Public Citizen of the Year
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BSW Student of the Year
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MSW Student of the Year
We are currently accepting nominations for the 2026 awards!
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Recipients will be honored at the NASW Virginia and Metro DC
In-Person Annual Conference in Newport News, VA, March 25-28, 2026.
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Award Categories
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BSW Student of the Year
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MSW Student of the Year
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Social Worker of the Year
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Citizen of the Year
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Lifetime Achievement Award
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If you have questions about the awards or the nomination process, please contact Molly Arbogast, Executive Director:marbogast.naswva@socialworkers.org ​​
Requirements for BSW & MSW Student of the Year Awards
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Nominee Eligibility
To be nominated, the nominee must:
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Demonstrate outstanding academic performance
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Demonstrate outstanding accomplishments in the field of social work during an internship or field placement
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Demonstrate strong leadership qualities
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Be a member of NASW
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Be enrolled in a CSWE-accredited social work program in Virginia
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Nomination Requirements
To submit a nomination, the nominator must:
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Complete the online nomination form
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Upload a minimum one-page summary describing the nominee’s:
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Academic achievements, leadership roles, and accomplishments in social work
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Volunteer activities (academic or otherwise) that promote a positive image of social work, benefit a population at risk, or demonstrate leadership
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Awards, scholarships, honors, or other recognition not previously listed
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Upload one letter of support
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Upload at least three high-resolution photos (JPG format preferred)
Requirements for Citizen of the Year Award
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Nominee Eligibility
To be nominated, the nominee:
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Must not be a member of the social work profession
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Must have contributed to increasing public knowledge and a positive image of social work
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Must have made a substantial contribution benefiting the community
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Must have demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in the human services field
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Must personally represent ethics compatible with the NASW Code of Ethics
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Nomination Requirements
To submit a nomination, the nominator must:
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Complete the online nomination form
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Upload a minimum one-page summary describing:
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What the nominee accomplished
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What risks the nominee took to achieve results
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Who the beneficiaries were
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Upload one letter of support
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Upload at least three high-resolution photos (JPG format preferred)
Requirements for Social Worker of the Year Award​
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Nominee Eligibility
To be nominated, the nominee must:
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Be a social worker and a member of NASW
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Demonstrate service beyond job responsibilities
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Take risks to achieve meaningful results
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Contribute to the public’s knowledge and positive image of social work
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Demonstrate leadership qualities
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Make volunteer contributions
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Demonstrate impact in one or more of the following areas:
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Advocacy for clients
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Impact on social policy
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Exceptional practice
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Program development
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Administrative leadership and innovation
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Applied research
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Education and publications
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Nomination Requirements
To submit a nomination, the nominator must:
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Complete the online nomination form
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Upload a minimum one-page summary describing:
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What the social worker accomplished
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What risks were taken to achieve results
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Who the beneficiaries were
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Upload the nominee’s Curriculum Vitae
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Upload one letter of support
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Upload at least three high-resolution photos (JPG format preferred)
Requirements for Lifetime Achievement Award
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Nominee Eligibility
To be nominated, the nominee must:
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Be a social worker and a current or past member of NASW
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Meet all eligibility requirements for the Social Worker of the Year Award
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Demonstrate sustained, outstanding achievements across an entire career
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Have received recognition from organizations outside of professional social work associations
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Nomination Requirements
To submit a nomination, the nominator must:
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Complete the online nomination form
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Upload a minimum one-page summary describing:
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What the nominee accomplished
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What made the nominee’s actions outstanding
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What risks were taken to achieve results
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Who the beneficiaries were
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The long-term impact of the nominee’s work
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Upload the nominee’s Curriculum Vitae
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Upload one letter of support
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Upload at least three high-resolution photos (JPG format preferred)