Beck Scholarship

Maurice P. Beck

Maury Maurice P. Beck, a lifelong advocate for human services, was well known for his leadership of the Michigan League for Human Services, and his ever present bow tie.

After service in the armed forces during World War II, he earned his Masters of Social Work degree at the University of Pittsburg, specializing in community organizations. After coming to Michigan in 1949, he worked within the United Way system and eventually became the Executive Director of the League in 1960. An able advocate, he led the League in its work advocating policy decisions that would help Michigan’s less fortunate and the organizations that were serving them. After retiring in 1985, he continued to be active as a volunteer for several nonprofit and community organizations.

After his death in March 2002, two oranizations that he helped establish, the 501 Alliance, and the Human Services Association Workers Compensation Fund, donated ten thousand dollars each to create the Beck Scholarship in honor of Mr. Beck and his long years of service to nonprofits sector and Michigan’s disadvantaged.

The Michigan League for Human Services is the fiduciary for this fund. The scholarship is available to one Masters of Social Work (MSW) student and requires a written application that will be reviewed by a panel selected by the League. The amount of the annual scholarship depends on the interest earned on the principal. The scholarship amount for 2012-2013 is $1,000.

Application Requirements

There is no special form. The requirements to apply for the Beck Scholarship are as follows:

The scholarship is available to individuals who have confirmed acceptance into a Master’s of Social Work (MSW) program at a Michigan college or university and plan to start in July or September of the following school year. It is also available to students already in an MSW program who have at least one more school year of study.
The applicant’s course of study must have a concentration in public policy, community organization, or a related area.
The applicant must submit an introductory paragraph which includes name, address, phone number, email address, college or university, field of concentration, year of study and anticipated graduation date.
The applicant must also submit an essay with a 750 word maximum on how the applicant plans to use his/her MSW degree to improve the lives of low income people in Michigan.
To receive a scholarship for the 2012-2013 school year, the introductory paragraph and essay must be sent to Peter Ruark at pruark@milhs.org on or before June 15, 2012. The recipient will be chosen during the summer, and will receive the award in September 2012.

Donations to the Beck Scholarship

Donations can be sent to:

c/o Gilda Jacobs
Michigan League for Human Services
1223 Turner Street, Suite G-1
Lansing MI 48906

Credit card donations can also be made by calling the League office at 1-517-487-5436.

Most Recent Scholarship Winner

Taylor Long

The winner of the Maurice P. Beck Scholarship in 2011 is Taylor Long, a University of Michigan doctoral student in Social Work and Political Science. For the 2011-2012 school year, Taylor is completing his field instruction with the Michigan League for Human Services.

With most of his work to date concerning questions of international social work, Taylor is interested in the role that ideas and beliefs, including religion, play in processes of community development and in the formulation of progressive social policy.

Prior to joining the League, Taylor was a Consultant at Pursue Ltd in Beirut, Lebanon. He holds a master’s degree from the American University of Beirut and bachelor’s degree from New York University.

Past Scholarship Winners

The 2010-2011 school year recipient of the Beck Memorial Scholarship was Audrey Dowell.
The 2008-2009 school year recipient of the Beck Memorial Scholarship was Laura Schmidt.
The 2007-2008 school year recipient of the Beck Memorial Scholarship was Leah DuBuc.
The 2005-2006 recipient of the Beck Memorial Scholarship was Melinda Haus.

MLHS Board of Directors Award

For Leadership/Advocacy/Research to Advance the Well-Being of Michigan’s Vulnerable Residents:

Sharon Parks, December 3, 2010