SS
Summer Sebastian
  • Social Work Area
  • Class of 2014
  • Greensburg, Ky.

Campbellsville University holds pinning ceremony for Summer Sebastian and 54 other Carver School graduates

2014 May 13

"This is not a rite of passage, but rather an effort earned and successfully achieved by our graduating students," Dr. Darlene Eastridge, dean of Campbellsville University's Carver School of Social Work and Counseling, said during the Carver School of Social Work and Counseling pinning ceremony May 2 in The Gheens Recital Hall in the Gosser Fine Arts Center.

Eastridge said the school is producing 55 graduates this semester.

"The Carver School and its mission is to prepare Christian servant leaders, and we are so proud of the graduates and alumni that we have currently in the field of social work and counseling," she said.

In working toward this degree, Eastridge said the honorees took care of children, parents, homes, held public jobs, worked in field placements, mission work, church work and had a student life.

"Their commitment to complete this degree is remarkable and it demonstrates their passion toward changing the world," she said.

The following students were pinned:

Summer Sebastian of Greensburg, Ky. received a bachelor of social work.

The Public Child Welfare Certification Program Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services partners with 11 universities across the Commonwealth of Kentucky, which includes Campbellsville University, Dr. Michelle Tucker, associate professor of social work, said.

"It's a unique program where those that want to go into child welfare work can not only get their bachelor's of social work, but can also simultaneously train to go directly into that position upon graduation," she said.

Tucker said it was a competitive position. In addition to benefits, the position entails instate tuition assistance, a stipend and a promise to work for Kentucky for two years. Those accepted for the position were Lauren Little of Sturgis, Ky. and Amy Marcum of Bronston, Ky.

The Distinguished Performance Award was presented to Jonnecia Bradford of Frankfort, Ky. The award was created by the faculty based on a student's performance on advanced comprehensive exams, which examined knowledge, values and practice behaviors acquired during the final year of the program.

Anne Adcock, director of the CU Larry and Beverly Noe Somerset Education Center, said she was really fortunate to have had a group of students that did a lot for the Somerset community.

"Over the past couple years, the students have raised over $3,000 for the local homeless shelter, provided a Christmas shelter for over 200 people for foster children and parents, provided desserts for 500 for the local soup kitchen, and they plan on raising a few thousand dollars after graduation.

"This is not required; it's above and beyond class requirements," she said.

Dr. Jennifer Lanham, assistant professor of social work, introduced the Phi Alpha Honor Society's candidates.

"These candidates have been elected by the society on the basis of their scholarly achievement and interest in social work. The highest honor one can achieve in social work at the Carver School of Social Work and Counseling is being extended to you because you are a proven candidate for initiation and have met all the requirements of our organization."

She said they had demonstrated a commitment to the standards, ethics and goals of the social work profession.

"Phi Alpha means love of humanity," she said. "The society feels these candidates are dedicated to the idea of service to humanity."

She then charged them to recognize and encourage scholastic achievement among the students who are majoring in social work, agree to improve and further the goal and objectives of social work by encouraging objectivity and awareness of current developments and practices in the areas and fields of social work, and to stimulate research for a career in social work.

Darrell Locke, field director and assistant professor of social work, introduced the baccalaureates of social work, who were hooded by Adcock and Renee Sartin, assistant professor of social work.

Tucker introduced the master's of social work, who were hooded by Eastridge and pinned by Dr. Candace Hansford, associate professor of social work.

Eastridge introduced the master's of science in counseling degree candidates, who were hooded by Dr. Kellie Cody, assistant professor of social work.

Sharon Arflin gave a performance of Pearl Jozefzoon's "You Raise Me Up." Debbie Carter, director of recruitment and community relations, quoted lyrics from Matthew West's "Do Something" below:

"I woke up this morning / Saw a world full of trouble now / Thought, how'd we ever get so far down / How's it ever gonna turn around / So I turned my eyes to Heaven / I thought, 'God, why don't You do something?' / Well, I just couldn't bear the thought of / People living in poverty / Children sold into slavery / The thought disgusted me / So, I shook my fist at Heaven / Said, "God, why don't You do something?" / He said, 'I did, I created you.'"

"If not us, then who / If not me and you / Right now, it's time for us to do something / If not now, then when / Will we see an end / To all this pain / It's not enough to do nothing / It's time for us to do something."

Carter also said the benediction.

Photos from the event can be found on CU's Flickr page: https://flic.kr/s/aHsjY4Rs9j.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,600 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.