Salyers of Frankfort, Ky. graduates from Campbellsville University's Carver School of Social Work and Counseling

2015 Jun 1

"This spring, Carver programs are contributing 51 new graduates to the field that helps people improve their lives," Dr. Darlene Eastridge, dean of Campbellsville University's Carver School of Social Work and Counseling, said during a pinning and hooding ceremony May 8 in The Gheens Recital Hall in the Gosser Fine Arts Center on campus.

Eastridge said the pinning was a milestone for all of the graduates from CU's Somerset, Louisville and Campbellsville locations.

"The Carver School and its mission to prepare Christian servant leaders is proud to add these new alumni to the current social workers and counselors that are working out in the field," she said.

In addition to achieving their academic goals, the graduates also had to care for children, aging parents, conduct home maintenance, fill public jobs while working on field placements and also participate in mission and church activities.

"Their commitment to complete this degree is remarkable and demonstrates their passion to change the world," she said. "The events of today are not a rite of passage, but rather from effort and achievement by our graduating students."

Anne Adcock, assistant professor of BSW and director of the CU Larry and Beverly Noe Somerset Education Center, and Dr. Helen Mudd, associate professor of social work, presented special honor awards.

The first honor award was for the Social Work Club.

"These folks have given an expert effort into the work of that club and what the club does, which includes participating in projects that serve their community," she said.

Adcock said the students found charities and organizations that could use their help. They worked in homeless shelters, food banks and domestic violence shelters.

"All of this is to fulfill the mission of CU by creating Christian servant leaders," 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.

Lanham said the students 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."

Lanham 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, assistant professor of social work, introduced the baccalaureates of social work, who were hooded by Adcock and Renee Sartin, assistant professor of social work and site director of at CU's Louisville Education Center.

Locke also introduced the master's of social work candidates, who were hooded by Eastridge and Mudd.

Kari Danielle Salyers of Frankfort, Ky. received a Bachelor of Social Work . Salyers completed the Public Child Welfare Certification Program and is a Phi Alpha Honor Society candidate.

Sartin performed an a cappella version of "The Lord's Prayer" and Kelly Joplin, assistant professor of the MFT program, gave the benediction.

Pictures from the event can be found on CU's Flickr page at https://www.flickr.com/gp/campbellsvilleedu/9onNU3.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 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.