Social Welfare selects 10 students for Toni Johnson Scholars Program in 2025-2026

The Toni Johnson Center for Racial and Social Justice selected 10 School of Social Welfare students to receive scholarships through the Toni Johnson Scholars Program. 

The Toni Johnson Scholars Program supports BSW, MSW and PhD students in the School of Social Welfare. Selected students receive financial support, mentoring, and professional networking and development opportunities. 

This scholarship is open to all KUSSW students. While in the program, requirements include working with a faculty mentor on a research project, engaging in 1:1 faculty mentoring, maintaining good academic standing and more.   

The 2025-2026 Toni Johnson Scholars recipients are: 

BSW Scholars: 

Yareli Ortiz  

Nandhani Sachithanandham 

Merrin Dillavou 

Jude Ghannam 

Kayli Robirts 

MSW Scholars: 

Morgan Brucks  

Elliot Coldiron  

Amy Nguyen 

Mariam Wadood 

Toni Johnson Scholars Doctoral Research and Dissertation Award: 

Zhiqi Yi, 2025-2026