By Drew Tucker, communications assistant

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - “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 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.

Baccalaureate's from CU's Carver School of Social Work and Counseling are: from left - April Ryan, Amy Marcum, Daphne Gibson, Stephanie Doss, Amy Dill, Sarah Rudd, Summer Sebastian, Kyle Perkins, Kelsie Peckham, Christine Cundiff, Rebecca McCorvey, Jordan Lobb, Lauren Little, Erica Cowan and Emily Campbell. (Campbellsville University Photo by Drew Tucker)

The following received a baccalaureate of social work: Emily Campbell of Louisville, Ky. and Phi Alpha Honor Society inductee; Erica Cowan of Campbellsville, Ky. and Phi Alpha Honor Society inductee; Christine Moran Cundiff of Campbellsville, Ky.; Amy Dill of Lancaster, Ky.; Stephanie Doss of Glasgow, Ky. and Phi Alpha Honor Society inductee; Daphne Gibson of Liberty, Ky.; Lauren Little of Sturgis, Ky.;

Jordan Lobb of Campbellsville, Ky.; Amy Marcum of Bronston, Ky.; Rebecca McCorvey of Campbellsville, Ky.; Kelsie Peckham of Campbellsville, Ky. and Phi Alpha Honor Society inductee; Kyle Perkins of North Pole, Alaska; Sarah Rudd of Louisville, Ky.; April Ryan of Berea, Ky.; and Summer Sebastian of Greensburg, Ky.

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

Master's of Social Work whom attended Campbellsville University's pinning ceremony include: from left - Tammy Thrasher, Erica Stephens, Rebecca Wright, Sarah Yates, Morgan Williams, Melissa McIntosh, Brandelynn Troxell, Rachel Moran, Kelli Jordan, Michelle Nevels, Makayla Jessie, Chellsey Phillips, Jonnecia Bradford, Kayla Hood, Christy Spaulding, Brian Tucker, Kasey Gray, Amanda Florence, Shawn Lanham, Shianne Anderson-Monteiro and Amanda Goodlett. (Campbellsville University Photo by Drew Tucker)

The following received a master's of social work: Shianne Anderson-Monteiro of Radcliff, Ky.; Jonnecia Bradford of Frankfort, Ky.; Kristin Burger of Harrodsburg, Ky. and Phi Alpha Honor Society inductee; Amanda Florence of Corydon, Ind.; Sarah Gilpin of Campbellsville, Ky.;

Amanda Goodlett of Danville, Ky.; Kasey Gray of Flat Lick, Ky.; Kayla Hood of Taylorsville, Ky.; Makayla Jessie of Edmonton, Ky.; Kelli Jordan of Somerset, Ky. and Phi Alpha Honor Society inductee; Shawn Lanham of Elizabethtown, Ky. and Phi Alpha Honor Society inductee; Titerriell Macklin of Louisville, Ky.; Melissa McIntosh of Crab Orchard, Ky. and Phi Alpha Honor Society inductee; Rachel Moran of Campbellsville, Ky.; Michelle Nevels of Harrodsburg, Ky. and Phi Alpha Honor Society inductee;

Lisa Norton of Winchester, Ky.; Chellsey Phillips of Campbellsville, Ky.; Kasey Spicer of Lexington, Ky.; Erica Stevens of Taylorsville, Ky.; Tammy Thrasher of Columbia, Ky.; Brandelynn Troxell of Somerset, Ky. and Phi Alpha Honor Society inductee; Brian Tucker of Bronston, Ky. and Phi Alpha Honor Society inductee; Morgan Williams of Liberty, Ky.; Susan Michelle Wright of Nancy, Ky.; Rebecca Wright of Lawrenceburg, Ky.; and Sarah Yates of Lebanon, Ky.

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

Dr. Kellie Cody, assistant professor of social work, and Dr. Darlene Eastridge, dean of the Carver School of Social Work and Counseling, pinned and hooding the Master's of Science in Counseling. From left - Cody, Cole Torbert, Daisy Perez, Lisa Nugent, Sharon Arflin and Eastridge. (Campbellsville University Photo by Drew Tucker)

The following received a master's of science in counseling: Sharon Arflin of Elizabethtown, Ky.; Chelsey Barnett of Louisville, Ky.; Candace Bell of Jeffersonville, Ind.; Lloyd Darling, Jr. of Louisville, Ky.; Shirley Miller of Louisville, Ky.; Robin Goben of Mount Washington, Ky.; Lisa Nugent of Hodgenville, Ky.; Daisy Perez of Bell Gardens, Calif.; Joyce Scherdin of Louisville, Ky; Margaret Searcy of Louisville, Ky.; Cole Torbert of Brentwood, Tenn.; Yvonne Walters of Georgetown, Ky.; Alissa Walton of Louisville, Ky.; and David Wilkinson of Georgetown, Ind.

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.

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.