Thursday, April 21, 2011

Social Work Honors!

April 10th was a banner day for the Social Work Department as Ashland University honored top students in each department at the Academic Honors Convocation, as well as student leaders across the campus at the 24th Annual Leadership and Service Recognition Reception.

At the Academic Honors Convocation Rachel Graves (Sophomore), Samantha Kauf (Junior), and Kendal Johnson (Senior) were recognized for their outstanding academic performance.


Pictured left to right, Rachel Graves, Prof. Vimont, Samantha Kauf, Prof. Stratton, Kendal Johnson and Prof. Udolph at the Convocation.  Professors Stratton and Udolph were also nominated for Faculty Member of the Year. 

Most notable of the Leadership and Service Reception was Jerika Gilcreast’s win of the award for Outstanding Campus Leader. Jerika was also nominated for the Diversity Enhancement Award and was also asked to present the Emerging Leader Award as last year’s winner. Congratulations Jerika!

Several other social work students were also nominated by both faculty and their peers across a variety of categories for service and leadership. 

Rachel Heckathorn was nominated for the Outstanding Campus Leader award and Outstanding Undergraduate of the Year (Female Category).

Kendal Johnson was selected for 2010/2011’s Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges list, and was nominated for the Volunteer Hall of Fame, Outstanding Campus Leader and Outstanding Undergraduate of the Year (Female Category).

Samantha Kauf was nominated for Outstanding Undergraduate of the Year (Female Category).
Jessamyn Lawhead was selected for the 2010/2011’s Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges list.

Congratulations again to all those recognized!
 

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Child Assault Prevention Week!

Recognizing & Preventing Child Abuse

Gain information about child abuse and tools for prevention in this campus-wide speaking event given by Pam Bugara, Child Assault Prevention Program Coordinator for Ashland County and for the Ohio’s Regional Training Center.

WRIST BAND Together for Healthy Kids SALE at Student Center Tables
--Mon. April 18-----11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
--Tues April 19----10:40 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
--Wed. April 20-----11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 


Donate $2 to support the Ashland County Center for Child Assault Prevention and receive a child assault prevention wrist band!

When: Monday, April 18th, 7:00pm
Where: Faculty Room, Upper Convo
Sponsored By: Ashland Center for Nonviolence
Event Cost: Free
Contact: Sara  acn@ashland.edu

Thursday, April 7, 2011

AU Social Work at the Rotary

An alumnus of the AU Social Work program, Bert MacQueen, invited Professor Nancy Udolph to give a speech on March 24th for the Loudonville Rotary Club about just what it is social workers can do for a community. Mr. MacQueen is an administrator and co-owner of the Jac-Lin Manor health care facilities and president-elect of the Loudonville Rotary.  The Loudonville Times covered the meeting and ran an article on April 5th (with photo!) by Jim Brewer. 

Photo by Jim Brewer
Prof. Udolph and Mr. MacQueen both understand that part of becoming a social worker is learning to be an ambassador for your profession. After the speech Prof. Udolph explained, “When I talk to community groups I talk about what Social Work really is. I share my perspectives on the stereotypes and then try to correct them and talk about the services we offer.” Prof. Udolph is quoted in the Loudonville Times article as telling the Rotary members, “Contrary to what some folks believe, social workers do more than pass out welfare checks and take away people’s kids.”  

Students in social work know how unreasonable generalizations like that are, but you also know how pervasive misinformation can be.  Even if people don’t have a negative opinion of social work, they may not understand just how many, or what a wide range of services social workers can provide.  

Prof. Udolph outlined the kinds of problems social workers tackle and who they can help, as she does every time she speaks to a community group.  “Even professors have to give oral presentations!” 

Monday, April 4, 2011

Student Social Worker Award!

Congratulations to Kendal Johnson on receiving the BSW Student of the Year award from Region VIII of the Ohio Chapter of National Association of Social Workers!

Kendal is a senior at AU, the President of the Social Work Club, a leader in the club’s Skip-A-Meal Today for United Way fundraising effort, the executive director for the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital philanthropy group on campus, and a volunteer in her community.  Her impressive list of contributions and achievements now puts her in the running for the state BSW Student of the Year Award given by the Ohio Chapter of NASW later this year.

Kendal is described by professors Udolph and Stratton as a, “principled person with sound values. She is committed to helping disadvantaged populations and she puts her value of social and economic justice into practice in everything she does." Kendal was presented with her award at the Region VIII awards banquet  Thursday, March 24; the region’s professional Social Worker of the Year, Kim Clark, was also presented with her award at the banquet.

Kim Clark and Kendal Johnson
For more information about the Ohio Chapter of NASW, check out their website, and if you see Kendal around campus, be sure to congratulate her on this fantastic achievement.

Friday, April 1, 2011

Center for Nonviolence Asks, 'Who is My Neighbor?'

A forum among members of several of the world’s major faiths will focus on the question, “Who Is My Neighbor?” at a panel discussion sponsored by the Ashland Center for Nonviolence. The panel discussion will be held Tuesday, April 5, at 7:30 p.m. in the Ridenour Room of the Dauch College of Business and Economics located on Ashland University campus. The event is free and open to the public. “Who Is My Neighbor?” was originally scheduled to be the opening program of the “Creating a Caring Community” symposium but was canceled due to weather conditions.

The hour-and-a-half long program will feature four panelists: Rabbi Joan Friedman of The College of Wooster; Hameem Habeeb, president of the Islamic Society in Mansfield; David Sherwood, lead pastor of the Five Stones Community Church in Ashland; and Father Joseph Hilinski, director of Ecumenical and Interfaith Activities for the Diocese of Cleveland.

Dr. David Aune, associate professor of religion at Ashland University, will moderate the discussion. Aune describes the symposium as an opportunity to explore ways for people of different faiths to work together, while acknowledging their differences and overcoming history of conflict in the name of religion.
“Community,” according to John Stratton, executive director of the Center for Nonviolence, “is a word that is tossed about casually. Sometimes it refers to the people who happen to live around us, the people on our block or in our town or county. Other times it refers to the group of people who share deep feelings and values, such as a church group or a group of co-workers.”

The challenge in thinking about community, according to Stratton, is bringing the two realities of community together. In materials prepared for the symposium, he asks, “How do we create a sense of community with the people who happen to be living in our town or our county? How do we create a sense of community among the people who happen to live near each other? Do we want to?
Are we required to?”

“The community of people living around us is much more complex than we would like to admit. Some of our neighbors may have lost their jobs, or been evicted, but others are very comfortable with good jobs and a stable home life.  Some of the people in our community abuse their spouses or their children; others work as volunteers in hospitals. They may be the same people because each of us is more complex than the statistics that define us in a single way.”

Sponsored by: Center for Nonviolence
Event date: 4/5/11 - 7:30pm
Location: Ridenour Room, Dauche College of Business and Economics
Cost: FREE