Alumni Awards

The Crown Family School is proud of the many thousands of alumni who are working at all levels to improve the quality of life of vulnerable individuals, families, and communities. Each year, the Crown Family School Alumni Association recognizes distinguished alumni during Alumni Weekend. The Edith Abbott Award, the Elizabeth Butler Award, and the Social Impact Award are given biannually on a rotating basis.

This year’s Alumni Awards Ceremony will take place during Alumni Weekend, on Friday, May 17, 2024. Please submit nominations by Friday, February 16, 2024.

Edith Abbott Award

The Edith Abbott Award recognizes a Crown Family School alum for distinguished service to society and for outstanding professional contributions at the local, national, or international levels. Honoring lifetime achievement, exceptional leadership in an agency or within a community; meaningful contributions through research or publications; or demonstrated creativity in traditional, non-traditional, or innovative approaches to practice, award recipients reflect the mission of Crown Family School and a demonstrated, on-going relationship with the School and a commitment to its growth. 

Elizabeth Butler Award

The Elizabeth Butler Award honors one recent graduate who has shown exceptional promise in the field of social work. Nominees must have earned an AM or PhD from Crown Family School not more than 10 years ago. A successful candidate for this award will show a strong commitment to social change; leadership in an agency or community; creativity in non-traditional or innovative approaches to practice; contributions to the field through research and publications and/or demonstrated professional skills.The next nomination cycle for the Elizabeth Butler Award will be in 2025.

Distinctive Innovation in Social Services Award

Nominations are received for social service agencies and programs that demonstrated innovation in their approaches and practices.

Milestone Achievement Awards

The Milestone Achievement Award recognizes Crown Family School alumni from milestone reunion classes for contributions to the field of Social Work. This award honors exemplary social work values, exceptional performance in clinical or administrative practice, and strong commitment to our profession.  This award provides an opportunity to honor some of our “unsung” colleagues who strive daily for (or whose past careers reflect) social justice, healthier communities, and the support of vulnerable individuals. 

Social Impact Award

The Social Impact Award honors one Mid-Career Alumna/us who has excelled beyond the norm early in their career. Nominees must have earned an AM or PhD from Crown Family School at least 10 years ago. A successful candidate for this award will show a strong commitment to social change; leadership (formally or informally) in an agency or community; creativity in non-traditional or innovative approaches to social problems; and commitment to furthering the social work field through volunteerism, teaching or mentorship. 

The Volunteer Leadership Award

The Volunteer Leadership Award recognizes alumni who have been of exceptional service to the University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice over a period of 10 years or more. Annually, this award goes to alumni who embodied service to Crown Family School through activities such as giving, volunteerism, including board or committee involvement, and student or alumni mentorship.