About The Scholarship And Its Namesake
This endowment will help support the students by reducing their financial stresses; in turn, Barron hopes the boost will help them make long-term commitments to support and grow the social work profession. Initially, the endowment will help fund the education of one MSW student with demonstrated interest, or experience working in, rural settings and/or health and mental health in African American communities.
Barron recently retired after 29 years with the Moody Air Force Base Family Advocacy Program in Georgia. She served as the Family Advocacy Treatment manager from 1993-2000, Family Advocacy Outreach manager from 2000-2019, and Family Advocacy Intervention Specialist from 2019-2022.
Recently, Barron was the recipient of the Tuskegee University College of Arts and Sciences Department of Social Work – Social Work Excellence Award for her contributions to military families, rural communities, and social work education through her volunteer work on various boards and mentorship of aspiring social work students. She was named Moody Air Force Base Civilian of the Year in 1994; and on numerous occasions, she was named Civilian of the Quarter. In 2003, she was named the NASW Georgia Chapter Social Worker of the Year.
Lawanna Renee Barron Endowed Scholarship Guidelines
Applicants must be a NASW member and have applied to or have been accepted into an accredited MSW or BSW Program (payment of the award will be contingent on the full admission of the candidate into the program). Students enrolled in an MSW or BSW program for more than one year may reapply to the Foundation for part or all of a second year. In addition, students must have potential for completing a program and have a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or above. In 2026-2027, one scholarship in the amount of $2,000 was awarded.
Application Requirements
- NASW membership, in good standing, is a mandatory requirement to receive an NASW Foundation Scholarship Award. Awardees must maintain active membership throughout the award period.
- Applicants who are current members in good standing can apply for a scholarship using their current membership ID number.
- To apply for NASW membership visit the NASW website (Online Join). New members will receive email confirmation of membership, which will include a member ID and password.
- Scholarship applicants either must be or plan to be enrolled in a social work degree program to maintain eligibility. Award is disbursed in two installments, at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. Applicants graduating before the 1st installment are not eligible.
Required materials:
- Mandatory application questions.
- Biographical essay (two typed, double-spaced pages). Essay must address career goals, interests, and work, volunteer, and school/field experience relevant to the guidelines of the award (demonstrated interest, or experience working in, rural settings and/or health and mental health in African American communities).
- Two letters of support / recommendations from professional references. Each up to one page. Letters can be written by a candidate's professors; individuals or leaders of groups with whom the candidate has worked in a helping capacity; an employer/supervisor; and so on. Character references or references from clients or family members will not be accepted. If the applicant is applying for renewed funding from the NASW Foundation, one of the two references must be obtained from the applicant’s academic advisor. The letters must include the names, email addresses, and signatures of your professional references; otherwise, they will not be accepted.
Transcript Requirements:
- Applicants must submit an official transcript from their most recent academic institution (undergraduate or graduate). Unofficial transcripts will not be accepted.
- If not yet accepted into the program for which the scholarship is sought:
- Submit an official transcript from the most recent institution attended.
- Include documentation (email or letter) from the college/university confirming that your application has been received.
- If selected for the scholarship: Finalists will be required to provide proof of acceptance or current enrollment in a CSWE-accredited program.
- If already accepted to or enrolled in the program for which the scholarship is sought:
- Submit an official acceptance or transcript from that institution.
- Signed release of information.
We are unable to provide individual feedback given the amount of scholarship applications received.