The 2024-2025 awardees were either student interns or field instructors participating in the school’s practicum program. The practicum is a requirement in all social work programs; it offers students the opportunity to learn from field instructors at participating internship programs across South Florida.
This year’s categories were:
- MSW Clinical Student Intern of the Year
- MSW Generalist Student Intern of the Year
- BSSW Student Intern of the Year
- MSW Clinical Field Instructor of the Year
- MSW Generalist Field Instructor of the Year
- BSSW Field Instructor of the Year
Interns and field instructors nominated each other for the awards, with awardees selected based on their contributions to the practicum program.
Meet the awardees below.
STUDENT AWARDEES
MSW Clinical Student Intern of the Year
MSW graduate Brianna Dacal ’25 was selected as this year’s MSW Clinical Student Intern of the Year. She was nominated by her field instructor Arryelle Alcalde, LCSW, of Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Brianna was commended for her ability to communicate with the children and teachers throughout her internship. “She takes time to understand the unique circumstances of each child and how the student’s home environment affects the student’s academic abilities,” said Arryelle. She adds that Brianna is a team player who has a gift for establishing rapport with parents.
MSW Generalist Student Intern of the Year
MSW student Lauren Nieves-Vazquez was selected as this year’s MSW Generalist Student Intern of the Year. “Lauren is definitely a wonderful asset to our field of social work and I look forward to what the future holds for her. I know she will do great things,” said her nominator Amber Rinehart-Perez, LCSW, of Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Amber shared that Lauren was a true pleasure to work with and was truly supportive of the needs of all populations the county serves.
BSSW Student Intern of the Year
BSSW student Maria Garcia is this year’s BSSW Student Intern of the Year. Throughout her time at Empowerment Zone Reentry Initiative, Maria demonstrated a level of excellence that goes above and beyond expectations for an undergraduate social work intern. “Whether developing resources, supporting colleagues, or problem-solving challenging cases, Maria steps in with confidence and capability,” said Paula Herrera, LCSW, and nominator. “She exemplifies the core values of social work through her integrity, innovation, empathy, initiative, and teamwork.”
FIELD INSTRUCTOR AWARDEES
MSW Clinical Field Instructor of the Year
Andrea Horowitz, LCSW, is the clinical director at Banyan Health Systems and this year’s MSW Clinical Field Instructor of the Year. MSW graduate student Grace Lagrange nominated her for the award, sharing that Horowitz is incredibly knowledgeable about what interventions are appropriate for her clients. “She is a favorite of many of the clients and is teaching me how to communicate with the clients better,” she says. “Andrea makes coming to my internship enjoyable for me.”
MSW Generalist Field Instructor of the Year
Jenny Gomez, LCSW, is this year’s MSW Generalist Field Instructor of the Year. At the time of being nominated, Gomez was the director of Behavioral Health Services at Camillus House. She had dedicated 15 years of her professional career to Camillus House, providing invaluable support to the homeless population, particularly those grappling with substance use disorder and mental illness. “Jenny's passion for social work shines through in her everyday interactions with clients and interns,” said Shawn Vazquez, the MSW student who nominated her for the award. “Her commitment to student learning is evident in her willingness to mentor and guide interns, helping them to develop their skills and understanding of harm reduction strategies.”
BSSW Field Instructor of the Year
Kristofer Fegenbush, MSW, is the chief operating officer at Pride Center Florida and this year’s BSSW Field Instructor of the Year. Miguel Gonzalez Calana, MSW student and nominator, shares that Fegenbush has been an outstanding mentor to him in his social work career. “During the two semesters, he constantly worked with the interns so that we could receive every hands-on experience we needed, and he unconditionally supported our professional development via assignments and tasks that involved the community,” says Miguel. “Kristofer's commitment to student learning makes him, in my humble opinion, truly deserving of this award."