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 | |  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. Coming to Michigan in 1949 he worked within the United Way system, until being chosen 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 of these organizations, which he helped establish, the 501 Alliance, an unemployment alternative for Michigan's nonprofits, and the Human Services Association Workers Compensation Fund, donated ten thousand dollars each to start a scholarship program, honoring Mr. Beck and his long years of service to the nonprofit sector and Michigan's disadvantaged.
The Michigan League for Human Services is happy to act as the fiduciary for this fund. The process is open to any Masters of Social Work student and requires a written application that will be reviewed by a panel selected by the League.
See below for the application materials required.
The amount of the annual scholarship will depend on the interest earned on the principal.
Donations to the scholarship fund can be made by sending them to:
Beck Scholarship
c/o MLHS
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.
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| | There is no special form
The amount of the scholarship is $1,000.
The requirements to apply for the Maurice Beck Scholarship are as follows:
Students who are BSW candidates who have confirmed acceptance of their offer of admission to a graduate level social work degree program (MSW) at a Michigan university focusing on organizational and community practice, expected to start in July or September of the following year. Second year MSW students in the same concentrations are also encouraged to apply.
Submit in writing before June 15, 2010 with an introductory paragraph which includes your name, address, phone number, email address, which graduate school of social work you are attending, field of concentration, and anticipated graduation date.
Also submit an essay with a 750 word maximum on how you would use your MSW degree to create a systemic change which would improve the lives of of low income people in Michigan.
Send the introductory paragraph and essay to:
Beck Scholarship
c/o Sharon Parks
Michigan League for Human Services
1223 Turner Street, Suite G-1
Lansing MI 48906
mlhs@michleagueforhumansvs.org
Return to MLHS Home Page | |
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| |  Laura Schmidt
The 2009 winner of the Beck Scholarship is Laura Schmidt, a University of Michigan student who is working toward her master’s degree in social work. She expects to graduate in August 2009 with a concentration in social policy and evaluation, and a minor in management of human services.
In her undergraduate studies, Laura gained experience working with homeless families at the Mid-Michigan American Red Cross. Recently, she analyzed Michigan’s unemployment insurance policies and the Unemployment Insurance Modernization Act made available through the 2009 federal stimulus package. Laura hopes to make a career out of analyzing state and federal policy, educating communities about policy issues, and advocating for populations in need of policy change. Laura’s specific policy interests are aimed at women’s health, education disparities, and poverty. | |
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| | 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 | |
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