Social Work Student Alex Rhodes Receives Verne LaMarr Lyons Memorial MSW Scholarship

Washington—The National Association of Social Workers Foundation is proud to announce that Alex Rhodes will receive the Verne LaMarr Lyons Memorial MSW Scholarship for the 2008-2009 academic year for his work on African American healthcare initiatives.

This scholarship is awarded to MSW candidates who express an interest in or work with the African American community through practice in health or mental health services.  Scholarship recipients work in hospitals, medical clinics, and social services agencies that provide treatment and specialized services to African American patients.

Mr. Rhodes was recently accepted into the Jane Addams School of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Chicago. While pursuing his undergraduate degree at Northeastern Illinois University, Mr. Rhodes committed himself to serving various HIV/AIDS community groups, particularly in the African American community. Specifically, Mr. Rhodes worked as an advocate for funding for services catering to individuals infected or impacted by HIV/AIDS.

Mr. Rhodes has developed a deep commitment to the use of social work knowledge and skills to promote health awareness among the African American community.

For more information about the NASW Foundation or the Verne LaMarr Lyons Memorial MSW Scholarship, please visit www.naswfoundation.org or e-mail foundation@naswdc.org.

About the National Association of Social Workers
NASW is the largest association of social workers in the world, with nearly 150,000 members in 56 chapters throughout the United States and abroad. 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.