HO
Hannah Ojard
  • Class of 2012
  • Vernon Rockville, CT

Eastern Connecticut State University Student Hannah Ojard Inducted into Social Work Honor Society

2012 May 18

Fourteen students majoring in social work at Eastern Connecticut State University were inducted into the national social work honor society, Phi Alpha, on May 12. The society provides a closer bond among students of social work and promotes humanitarian goals and ideals. Phi Alpha fosters high standards of education for social workers and invites into membership those who have attained excellence in scholarship and achievement.

Hannah Ojard '12 of Vernon Rockville, CT, was one of the inductees.

Professor Eunice Matthews-Armistead said that the learning that took place in social work field experiences was perhaps even more important than the classroom instruction the students has received. Professor Maggie Martin told the graduating seniors to be "faithful angels" as they go out to serve those in need.

Department Chair Robert Wolf shared some of the accomplishments of this year's seniors. Ashley Williams successfully completed the University Honors Program, and did a presentation at Eastern's Annual Research Conference about her study of needle-exchange programs around the world. Matt Vezina was recently named by the Connecticut Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers as the BSW Social Worker of the year. Namgyal Gyalnor gave a University Hour presentation in support of human rights in Tibet.

Steven Bagley, Megan Berube, Courtney Doherty, Kayla Lauretti, Hannah Ojard and Katelyn Vaughan conducted a needs assessment survey in a small town in the hills above Montego Bay, Jamaica, in March 2011, resulting in the Jamaican government creating a computer center for the local residents.

A number of Eastern BSW students were at the 90th percentile or higher in various sections of the Area Concentration Achievement Tests (ACAT), which were taken by more than 8,200 BSW graduating seniors across the country. They included Stephanie Weiner, Kayla Lauretti, Kylie Haggerty, Matt Vezina, Emily Royce, Steven Martin, Tiffany Blue, Megan Berube, and Katelyn Vaughan. Vezina and Lauretti received overall scores in the 90th percentile on the ACAT.

Six of the graduating students have jobs in hand in residential settings, or doing case managing, group work, Americorp and financial advising. Another 13 students have been accepted into MSW programs, 12 with advanced standing. They are going to UConn, Boston College, Westfield State, New York University, Rhode Island College and Columbia University.

Eastern Connecticut State University is the state's public liberal arts university and serves approximately 5,600 students each year on its Willimantic campus and satellite locations.