Garland School Awards
The Garland School of Social Work is proud to honor its students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Each year, the GSSW recognizes individuals for their outstanding scholarship, research, practicum and service contributions. The GSSW Awards Committee meets throughout the academic year to support the various nominations and recognition programs.
Student Awards
For over 20 years, students have been celebrated for their excellence in various categories. At the conclusion of each semester, GSSW faculty and staff are asked to nominate current students they believe best represent these award categories.
The Outstanding Student Award recognizes BSW and MSW students who demonstrate exceptional academic performance, professional behavior, and collegiality. These students excel in their contributions to the GSSW (i.e., scholarship, engagement in classroom and practicum, research and service).
The Alicia Martinez Spirit of Social Work Award recognizes BSW and MSW students who embody the spirit of social work through engagement beyond the classroom. These students are influencers among their peers and demonstrate a commitment to social work values and the GSSW by embodying social work holistically throughout their lifestyle and service. This might include championing social work innovations or advocacy within GSSW, Baylor, or the community. In 2021, the Spirit of Social Work award was named in honor of Alicia Martinez. Learn more about Alicia’s legacy here.
2026 Student Honorees
- Liz Lake, BSW Outstanding Student
- Antonianett Garcia, BSW Alicia Martinez Spirit of Social Work
- Jessie Carver, MSW Outstanding Student
- Dallas Johnson, MSW Alicia Martinez Spirit of Social Work
Faculty Awards
GSSW faculty are committed to preparing students for social work and service-oriented careers in a Christian context for worldwide service and leadership. Annually, the GSSW recognizes outstanding faculty for outstanding teaching, scholarship, and significant contributions to the academic community in ways other than teaching or research.
In addition to School-level recognition, those receiving awards will be eligible for the University’s Outstanding Faculty Award.
2026 Faculty Honorees
- Professor Carrie Arroyo, LCSW-S, Non-tenure track-faculty, Outstanding Teaching
- Dr. Edward Clay Polson, Tenured faculty, Outstanding Teaching
- Dr. Holly Oxhandler, Tenured faculty, Outstanding Scholarship
- Dr. Qianwei Zhao, Tenure-Track but not tenured Faculty, Outstanding Scholarship
- Dr. Laine Scales, Significant contributions to the academic community in ways other than teaching or research
Staff Awards
Baylor and the GSSW are blessed with exceptional staff members whose unfailing support and selfless contributions provide an invaluable foundation to the Baylor family. Baylor recognizes employees and teams who provide service "above and beyond" using the BaylorPLUS Salutes. Salutes may be submitted by colleagues, students, or parents throughout the year for an individual faculty or staff member or a team of faculty and staff. Any faculty, staff, or team nominated will be recognized in the Human Resources newsletter on a monthly basis. Each Spring, a pool collected from staff submissions will be selected to receive a staff award.
Baylor Faculty and Staff may recognize a colleague, team, or department here.
Practicum Awards
Each year, the Practicum Education Office awards students, social work supervisors, and task supervisors showing excellence in their roles within the internship process. Social work supervisors and task supervisors are contributing to the future of the social work profession through their gifts of time and expertise. Students are tirelessly serving clients and communities and showing competence and even excellence in their placement sites.
The Intern of the Year Award recognizes BSW and MSW students who show excellence in performance, take on leadership roles within the placement site (appropriately based on student's internship level and role), show Initiative as an adult learner seeking out opportunities for professional growth, contribute to a sense of teamwork and collaboration at the placement site, demonstrate ability to think critically and respond with innovation to challenges faced, show commitment to student's own learning and growth while promoting the betterment of the placement site, demonstrate service to and advocacy for the client population served at the placement site and an overall professional behavior and conduct.
2026 Student Honorees
- Joleen Gould, BSW Intern of the Year
- Denise Perez, MSW Intern of the Year, Clinical Practice
- Miah Carter, MSW Intern of the Year, Community Practice
The Social Work Supervisor of the Year Award recognizes social work supervisors who promote social work values and model ethical and professional behavior, provide space for learning and growth, specifically providing feedback, building rapport, and demonstrating theory/practice integration, demonstrate excellence in supervision of students, including consistent availability for internship supervision meetings, support the mission and objectives of the GSSW, and show commitment to preparing students for the social work profession through mentoring, leadership, and coaching. Supervisor must be a GSSW-approved Social Work Supervisor for at least 2 complete terms/semesters.
The Task Supervisor of the Year Award recognizes task supervisors who demonstrate excellence in supervision of students, including consistent availability for consultation, promote the development of student professionalism and supporting their growth toward social work values and ethics, contribute to student development from their own practice area and training area, support the mission and objectives of the GSSW, and demonstrate excellence in their own practice.
2026 Supervisor Honorees
- Jamie McKinney, Social Work Supervisor of the Year
- Keli Jackson-Freeman, Task Supervisor of the Year