Scholarships and Awards
Scholarships and Awards for 2026 are now open!
Advisor of the year
This award recognizes outstanding service to chapters. Advisors are nominated by their students. A plaque is awarded. Deadline for entry is May 31.
Chapter Service Award
This award recognizes outstanding service conducted by chapters. Four $500 awards are presented per year. Deadline is May 31.
MSW Scholarship Program
For each program, each year, three scholarships will be awarded. They are (1st) $3,000, (2nd) $2,000, and (3rd) $1,000. Awards are intended to help students with expenses related to their education. Students must be members of
Phi Alpha to apply. Winning submissions will be posted on the Phi Alpha website. Applications are due May 31st. Awards are announced by September 1st.
Doctoral Scholarship Program
For each program, each year, three scholarships will be awarded. They are (1st) $3,000, (2nd) $2,000, and (3rd) $1,000. Awards are intended to help students with expenses related to their education. Students must be members of Phi
Alpha to apply. Winning submissions will be posted on the Phi Alpha website. Applications are due May 31st. Awards are announced by September 1st.
Patty Gibbs-Wahlberg Scholarship
This award recognizes student scholarship, service, and leadership. Awards of $3,000, $2,000, and $1,000 are presented each year. Deadline for entry is May 31.
Student Leadership Award
These awards recognize outstanding student leadership consistent with the ideals and missions of Phi Alpha. The focus of the application is the student’s leadership, service, impact, and commitment. The awards are $1,000 for first
place, $750 for second place, and $500 for third place. Students must be active leaders of Phi Alpha and nominated by their chapter advisor. Deadline is May 31.
Chapter Grants
These grants promote and support chapters’ engagement in service learning. This award supports activities consistent with the mission of promoting humanitarian goals and bonds among students. Six $1,000.00 awards are presented each year. Due September 1st and January 1st. Send application to:
PhiAlphaInfo@etsu.edu.
2026 Scholarships and Award winners
Advisor of the Year Award:
Sun Chen Hsiao, DPPD, MSW, PPSC, LCSW
University of Southern California
Patty Gibbs Wahlberg Bachelor of Social Work Scholarship Awards:
Tatianna Elyse Lewis
Simmons University
Advisor: Willa Mayo, LMSW
Kassi McGlothlin
Tennessee Wesleyan University
Advisor: Dr. Jodi Helbert
Rachel Lee Lee Luckie
University of Alabama
Advisor: Mary Sella
Masters of Social Work Awards:
Elizabeth Padilla
University of Southern California
Advisor: Dr. Suh Chen Hsiao
Kate Greif
Hope College
Advisor: Elizabeth A. Sharda
Jenna Malone
University of Southern Indiana
Advisor: Jean Zelenko
Rachel Owens, CSAC, BSN
Virginia Commonwealth University
Advisor: Madison Woodroof
Doctorial of Social Work Awards:
Stephen Lieberman
University of Southern California
Advisor: Dr. Suh Chen Hsiao
Devon M. Hernandez, MSW
University of Southern California
Advisor: Dr. Suh Chen Hsiao
Elizabeth Langford-Ford
Alabama A&M University
Advisor: Dr. Helen Fischle
Student Leadership Awards:
Stephen Lieberman
University of Southern California
Advisor: Dr. Suh Chen Hsiao
Carolyn Morrell
University of Central Florida
Advisor: Jill Davis
Christina Mihalitsianos
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Advisor: Nicole Zmuda, PhD, LCSW
2025 Phi Alpha Chapter Service Awards:
Texas A&M University – Central Texas (Killeen, Texas)
Pi Rho Chapter
Claudia Rappaport, Advisor
University of Southern California (Los Angeles, California)
Omicron Epsilon Chapter
Suh Chen Hsiao, Advisor
University of Nebraska at Omaha (Omaha, Nebraska)
Theta Epsilon Chapter
Kersten Borer, Advisor
California State University, East Bay (Hayward, California)
Chi Psi Chapter
Dr. Marya Wright, Advisor
Looking for service projects?
Safety Posters
During the summer, Phi Alpha members distributed “See and Save” posters to increase awareness of safety issues related to swimming pools, and car seat safety for children.
Donation Boxes
Phi Alpha members collected school supplies via donation boxes throughout the campus. Members spent a Saturday outside a store asking people who were entering the store to buy school supplies and donate them. The collection amount
was over $1000 of supplies and an additional $600 in cash donations used to purchase additional supplies. All of these supplies were distributed to Communities in Schools social workers for three schools in low income areas to distribute
to their clients who could not afford to purchase their supplies. This particular Phi Alpha chapter was rewarded with the President’s Volunteer Service Award by the Community Partners and Local Child Welfare Board.
Fund Raising
Many chapters have garage sales, canned food drives, or bake sales. Items not sold are donated to local Goodwill Industries, Families in Crisis or local domestic violence shelters.
Helping the Homeless
An annual national event where Phi Alpha members sleep outside in cardboard boxes to raise homeless awareness is held. Money raised is donated to help fight homelessness.
Book Drive
A massive book drive was conducted that resulted in both a children’s and adult’s library at a local homeless shelter.
Inner-City Child
An Easter egg party was held for an inner-city church preschool. Refreshments, arts, crafts, and an Easter egg hunt were provided for the children.