Unique New Scholarship for School of Social Work

A new scholarship, titled Lira’s Legacy Scholarship, was recently established to aid students with disabilities within the Andrews University School of Social Work. Valued at $1,500, the scholarship will be offered annually. In order to apply, students must be studying social work and identify as living with autism spectrum disorder or a documented disability that significantly impacts day-to-day life. This scholarship enhances both the University and its surrounding community, as it emphasizes the importance of individuality and recognizes the need to create a more equitable path for people with disabilities.

 

The recipient of the 2025–2026 scholarship is Caundee Cauvin, master of divinity and master of social work student. Reflecting on her feelings and experiences, Cauvin shares, “Applying required me to reflect honestly on what it means to live with ADHD—both the challenges and the strengths it brings. It pushed me to acknowledge parts of my story that I usually keep private.” She adds, “When I found out I had been selected … it was a moment of validation—a reminder that when we are honest about invisible disabilities, we open the door to understanding, support and encouragement rather than stigma."

 

The scholarship was created by Mariella Pechero. She shares that one of her many reasons for creating the scholarship was her experience as the mother of a non-neurotypical son. Pechero says, “My hope is that this scholarship will offer comfort to parents, in a small but meaningful reminder that they are seen, understood, and not alone. I hope it serves as a symbol of our shared belief that our children can thrive.”

 

Pechero named the scholarship in remembrance of her late aunt, Lira Weiss. She describes Weiss’ “passionate love and tenacity” as well as her lifelong commitment to people. Pechero also affirms that Weiss, inspired by the many social workers in her family, saw the inherent value of every individual, regardless of ability. Weiss had deep roots within the Andrews community, as the mother of Ingrid Slikkers, associate professor of social work and executive director of the International Center for Trauma Education & Care, as well as the grandmother and aunt to several other students in the School of Social Work.

 

Slikkers reflects, “This scholarship feels deeply personal because it represents my mother’s legacy of compassion and service. It reminds me that the values she lived—care, advocacy and community—continue to shape others through this award.”

 

Shannon Trecartin, professor and chair of the School of Social Work, says, “The scholarship is not an abstract fund. Instead, it is an expression of love, legacy, and family.” Weiss’ close connection to the Andrews University community has given the scholarship a touching and lasting impact. The values behind the initiative, of support and care, align with those at the core of both the Social Work Program and the University as a whole.

 

Lira’s Legacy Scholarship has not only had a meaningful effect on campus but also on the surrounding community. Trecartin explains that social work students frequent “the broader community through internships, employment, volunteering, and ministry.” She notes that when students feel “financially, emotionally, and academically” supported, they engage in these activities with more purpose and passion.

 

Trecartin adds that focusing on the support of individuals with disabilities ensures that new social workers entering the field will be diverse; this allows for advocacy and empathy within both workplaces and client relationships. She shares that this representation in the social work field “enhances the quality of services and promotes a more inclusive understanding of disability and neurodiversity throughout the community.”