Anne Kok

The Wisconsin Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers selected Anne Kok (posthumously) as the Distinguished Social Worker for 2008.

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Social Work Professor Judith Martin, presented the award to Paul Kok (Anne Kok's widower) at NASW WI's annual awards ceremony on Friday May 16, 2008 at the Sheraton Madison Hotel, 706 John Nolan Drive, Madison.

Until her tragic and untimely death on February 4, 2008, Professor Kok had served as a faculty member and Chair of the Social Work Program at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay for over seventeen years.

NASW WI chose to recognize Professor Kok for her outstanding leadership in the social work community, in social work education and in international arenas.

Professor Kok's practice experience spanned more than thirty years and included work as a self-help project coordinated in Amman, Jordan, service as an Interim Executive Director for a Youth Service Center in Chicago, four years as Executive Director of HELP of Door County, subsequent service as a member of the HELP's Board of Directors and membership on committees for the NEW Partnership for Children & Families.

As an educator, Anne developed an innovative year-long senior project for social work students that examined emerging community needs and spurred student's efforts to strengthen services for clients through the region. Over the years these projects have focused on food insecurity, the English Only resolution, the COP waiting list, homeless children in the Green Bay schools, community service needs related to the Mental Health Center and Door County transportation needs.

In her distinguished career as a social work educator, Anne touched the lives of more than a thousand new social workers from the region. Her influence on students can be seen from the following comments from former student, "...she pushed us as students to do great work" (2008 student), she "encouraged me to think outside the box and always reach higher than what you think you can do" (2003 graduate), "I feel incredibly blessed to have learned from her and hope I can somehow carry on her passion and spirit to others on my journey" (2001 graduate). "I sit here as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Equadore, due in part to the inspiration that Anne gave me" (2005 program graduate).