The following 2010 GSSW Alumni Association Awards were presented at the Colorado Social
Work Month Celebration on March 4, 2011. Find more information about how to nominate
a graduate for 2011 at our Alumni Award Nominations page.
GSSW Service Award - Sue Kenney, MSW '79
This award is presented to an alumnus/alumna who has contributed to, or served, the
Graduate School of Social Work in a noteworthy and significant fashion, through personal
effort and/or financial contribution.
During her distinguished social work career, Sue Kenney has held positions with Catholic
Community Services, the Loretto Community and the Denver Department of Human Service?s
Denver Family Opportunity Program. Kenney also co-founded and co-directed Project
WISE a non-profit whose mission is the empowerment of women with low incomes.
Kenney has been an active member of GSSW?s Field Team serving as a Field Instructor,
Field Liaison and Field Advisory Board member. During the past year, she also opened
numerous new MSW internships, building relationships with potential partner agencies
and identifying field instructors for GSSW students. Kenney?s professionalism is
demonstrated not only through the community connections she has developed, but also
during her facilitation of problem-solving meetings with students and their internships
agencies. Her gentle style allows for all involved to feel validated and respected.
Graciousness, good humor, commitment and willingness to perform any task are but a
few of the remarkable qualities embodied by Kenney. She is a valued asset to GSSW.
Community Service Award - Hope Wisneski, MSW '00
This award is presented to an alumnus/alumna who has demonstrated significant and
continuous volunteer involvement in major community activities and/or charitable causes,
above and beyond his/her employed position.
Since 2007, Hope Wisneski has served as the Deputy Executive Director of the Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center of Colorado, where she?s responsible
for its programs, program evaluation, community needs assessment and program development.
Since graduating from GSSW, Wisneski has been a statewide and national leader offering
consulting and training on LGBT cultural competency and youth-adult partnership models
for groups such as the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the National Association
of Social Workers, the National Conference on Tobacco and Health, the Colorado Foster
Parent Association and the Division of Youth Corrections at the Colorado Department
of Human Services.
Wisneski?s volunteer work has distinguished her as a model social worker who supports
numerous organizations committed to the values and ethics of the discipline. She
has served on the boards of the Colorado Anti-Violence Program, the Colorado Child
and Adolescent Mental Health Committee, the Colorado AIDS Project and Community Shares
of Colorado, as well as the GSSW Field Advisory Board. Wisneski?s talents have contributed
to a number of working committees in Colorado, including Colorado Organizations Responding
to AIDS, the Denver Alliance for Tobacco Health, the Rocky Mountain Equal Care Coalition,
the Johnson and Wales University GLBT Advisory Committee and the Komen Foundation?s
Diversity Outreach Advisory Committee.
Renowned for her expertise in developing community collaboration, Wisneski is recognized
as a team builder, motivator and mentor for cultural competence.
Robert L. Hawkins Social Work Achievement Award - Norma Aguilar-Dave, MSW '96, LCSW, CAC III
This award is presented to an alumnus/alumna who has demonstrated professional achievement
by being named executive director, manager, chairperson of the board, etc., of a social
work agency or organization; or by reaching a level of prominence in education, practice
or politics, etc; or by receiving national recognition in the field of social work.
This award is named in honor of Robert L. Hawkins, MSW '67, who rose through the ranks
at Colorado Psychiatric Institute in Pueblo, eventually becoming the first social
worker appointed as its Superintendent. Under Hawkins' leadership, the Institute
became a model psychiatric treatment facility.
Norma Aguilar-Dave has been at Savio House since 2004. She joined Savio in 1996 as
a Family Therapist, then became Day Treatment Program Coordinator in 1998, after earning
her LCSW and CAC III certifications.
As Director of Adolescent Services, Aguilar-Dave oversees the implementation of evidenced-based interventions and continues to help strengthen and develop Savio?s Day Treatment, Residential Treatment and Community-Based Services. Aguilar-Dave has led the merging of Multisystemic Therapy and Functional Family Therapy into the Day Treatment and Residential Treatment Programs to reduce placement, improve the clients? success and sustainability in the community and increase the cost-effectiveness of programming. Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care, one of the most difficult programs to implement, has been a major challenge for Savio, and it is through Aguilar-Dave?s efforts that the organization is making great strides in the development of this program. Moreover, youth who have multiple services and placement failures are thriving in this program.
As an advocate, mentor and leader in the field of social work, Aguilar-Dave has devoted her professional self to ensure that there are effective strategies and programs aimed at eliminating destructive behaviors and improving the lives of individuals and families.
