Stephanie Weiner
  • Social Work
  • Class of 2012
  • West Hartford, CT

Stephanie Weiner of Manchester Inducted into Social Work Honor Society

2012 May 18

Twelve Eastern Connecticut State University students were inducted into the Phi Alpha Social Work Honor Society on May 12. The social work major provides students with the knowledge, values and skills necessary for beginning generalist social work practice. The major combines a liberal arts perspective with professional social work education in the classroom and in field settings throughout Eastern Connecticut.

Stephanie Weiner '12 of Manchester, CT, was one of the inductees. Weiner's major is Social Work.

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. Eastern serves approximately 5,600 students each year on its Willimantic campus and satellite locations.