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Consuelo W. Gosnell Memorial scholarship awarded to grad student Josephine Halfhide
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At the beginning of every school year, many scholarships are awarded to students who have demonstrated extraordinary effort in their area of study. This year, graduate student Josephine Halfhide of the Master’s of Social Work Department at Boise State University was awarded the Consuelo W. Gosnell Memorial scholarship for her countless hours of hard work and dedication to social work, specifically with Native Americans at a local and federal level.
“I was very honored to receive this kind of recognition for my work,” Halfhide said.
She began working with Native American children as a teenager and during a summer part-time job as a swimming instructor while attending Idaho State University.
With over thirty years of experience with the Native American culture under her belt, she continues with her passion by pursuing a master’s in social work at Boise State. For Halfhide, more education equals more opportunity.
“She is a first class student – really engaged with the community,” said Dr. William Whitaker, Master’s of Social Work program coordinator. He worked with Halfhide over the past two years and was one of the professors at BSU to recommend Halfhide for this scholarship.
Halfhide has been working for Native Americans and tribes for years, but only recently has she been involved with native students at Boise State. She is currently an intern at the Cultural Center, where she is involved in many projects including recruitment research, participation in center events, writing for the “Cultural Drums” newsletter and making herself readily available for counseling Native American and other ethnic students who may be struggling with school, diversity or social issues.
Halfhide has participated in many events sponsored by the BSU Cultural Center that she said give a lot of attention to minority students and promote diversity. Halfhide said there isn’t a lack of attention to minorities at Boise State, but a lack of minorities does exist.
Halfhide said she plans to evaluate the recruitment and retention of American Indian and Alaskan Native students at BSU and the degree of their involvement on campus as her main research goal.
“She is always trying to ensure a warm atmosphere for diverse students to help make Boise State a welcoming place,” Whitaker said. He also said her dedication to bridging the gap between the Native American community and other Boise State students. Halfhide said she is very enthusiastic about educating students and faculty about Indian tribes within the boundaries of Idaho and beyond.
Each year students all over the United States apply for the Consuelo W. Gosnell Memorial scholarship awarded by the National Association of Social Worker’s Foundation (NASW). The NASW Foundation is an organization committed to enhancing the wellbeing of individuals through the advancement of social work practice.
“She demonstrated a commitment to those who are under-served,” said Allison Nadelhaft, Senior Communications Associate for the NASW Foundation regarding Halfhide’s award.
Consuelo W. Gosnell was considered a champion of human and civil rights. Gosnell worked diligently throughout her life to ameliorate conditions for minorities in the Southwest.
The six winning applicants, including Halfhide, were given the scholarship to continue their education in social work.
Halfhide has already used her scholarship for fall tuition expenses and will use the remainder for spring semester.
Although she plans to graduate with a Master’s degree in Social Work this spring, Halfhide will continue working with the BSU Social Work department. She’s working to develop a one-credit class in which students would get the opportunity to attend the Shoshone Bannock Tribes’ 2006 Indian Festival in Fort Hall, ID.
This experience would include participating in tribal activities such as pow-wows and also give the students an opportunity to meet with the various tribal departments regarding social services within the tribal community.
Josephine Halfhide said she would like to invite all American Indian and Alaskan Native students who are interested in participating in her research to contact the Cultural Center at 426-5950.
Jessica Wigley / News Writer
