DATE: EMBARGOED UNTIL MONDAY, MARCH 27, 2023

CONTACT: Debra Riggs, CAE, Executive Director, Virginia and Metro DC chapters, National Association of Social Workers, driggs.naswva@socialworkers.org, 804-204-1339

NASW Virginia Chapter Honors Recipients of

Lifetime Achievement Award,

Outstanding Social Work Student of the Year

RICHMOND, VA: The Virginia Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers presented two 2023 Annual Awards for professional and academic excellence March 24 during its 2023 Annual Conference in Williamsburg.

Lifetime Achievement in Social Work Award, the chapter’s highest individual honor recognizing a social work professional with a proven career-long commitment to strict ethics and the social work profession, as well as outstanding professional performance and leadership:

NASW Virginia Award Recipient: Marion “Gene” Collins, LCSW, BCD, ACSW, Richmond, Va.

Bachelor of Social Work Student of the Year in recognition of exemplary performance and leadership by a BSW student:

NASW Virginia Award Recipient: Katherine Paulikonis, Christopher Newport University

“At a time when the nation’s mental health has reached crisis levels, these talented individuals stand out as healthcare heroes in Virginia for their excellent service and commitment to the social work profession or to their school,” says Debra Riggs, CAE, executive director of NASW Virginia and Metro DC chapters. “We congratulate and thank each award recipient.”