The Connecticut Association of School Social Workers (CTASSW), a network within NASW-CT, is pleased to announce the Patricia A. Kukor Scholarship Fund which has been established in her memory.Patricia (Patty) was a beloved school social worker in the Middletown School district. Her sudden death in 2015 left her localand statewide colleagues bereft of a truly gifted colleague. She was known for her incredible compassion and energyfor her “kids” in her school district. She also demonstrated tireless leadership skills at the statewide level in the Connecticut Association of School Social Workers.
Friends, colleagues and family members who were connected to Patty always spoke of her incredible warmth, compassion, and sense of humor not only in her personal relationships but also professionally. Born on October 20, 1957, in New Brunswick, NJ, she was loved by her parents, Jessie and the late William J. Kukor as well as her two siblings, John and Rosanne.
Patty earned her bachelor’s degree at Boston College and her MSW from the UCONN School of Social Work. Prior to her accepting a position with the Middletown School District, she worked as a social worker at the Academy of Mount Saint John School.
Patty also attended several school social work events at the national level. These included the SSWAA conference in Philadelphia in 2001 as well as several Summer Leadership Workshops sponsored by the School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA). She appreciated the opportunity to advocate on behalf of legislation impacting children and families in Connecticut during visits to Capitol Hill organized by the SSWAA lobbyist. She often shared with her colleagues how rewarding and empowering this experience was for her.
Patty truly represented what it meant to not only be an excellent Social Worker, but truly a good human being. Please consider joining us by giving a donation to the Patricia A. Kukor Scholarship fund to honor her legacy and support the future of School Social Workers.
Outreach to CT Schools of Social Work will commence in the fall of 2025. Second Year Social Work Applicants for the Patricia A. Kukor Scholarship will need to demonstrate a strong interest in seeking a position in the field of school social work.The CTASSW Scholarship Committee will review the applications and notify the award recipient later in the year.
Eligibility
To be considered for the scholarship award, applicants MUST be a student member of NASW and meet the following criteria:
- Be a second-year MSW student enrolled in a CSWE accredited MSW program in Connecticut.
- Demonstrate a strong interest in pursuing a career in school social work.
The scholarship award will be sent directly to the recipient’s college or university.
Selection and Recognition
The CTASSW Scholarship Committee opens the call for applications each fall, reviews submissions, and announces the award recipient before the end of the calendar year.
Recipients may be recognized in one or more of the following ways:
- Public Acknowledgement: The recipient will be announced on the NASW-CT Chapter’s website, and other outreach materials.
- Testimonial: The recipient may be asked to provide a brief quote about how the scholarship impacts their journey in social work.