The Dr. Bernard and Sarah Lander Distinguished Social Work Tikun Olam Awards, granted to students who have demonstrated resilience in overcoming personal obstacles in their lives and have then dedicated their lives to serving others, were awarded to Miriam Klein and Brenda Davis. Ms. Davis, who has six children and fifteen grandchildren, decided to reinvent her life after overcoming three decades of domestic and substance abuse, and now rehabilitates drug users as a patient advocate manager at a major Manhattan hospital. This is the third academic degree she is obtaining from Touro.

The 2015 valedictory honor was presented to Hila Revah, GSSW ’15, who will address the Graduate School of Social Work at Touro’s Graduate Division Commencement Exercises on June 23.

Aris Johnson was awarded the National Association of Social Work (NASW) Student of the Year Award by Sandy Bernabei, board president of the New York City chapter of NASW.  “She’s a social worker through and through,” said Bernabei, describing her longtime advocacy efforts on behalf of both GSSW and the social work profession in general.                            

Outstanding Community Service and Leadership Awards were presented to Jasneth Mitchell and John Lopez. The latter, whose future goals include counseling Rikers Island inmates, spent an extensive number of hours volunteering at juvenile detention facilities, colleges, and high schools in New York City.

The evening included welcoming remarks from Touro’s Executive Vice President Rabbi Moshe Krupka; Dr. Nadja Graff, vice president of the Division of Graduate Studies; Dean Steven Huberman; and Allison Bobick, director of student advancement at GSSW. In his address, Dean Steven Huberman spoke of his pride in presenting these awards to the graduates, extolling each of their “magnificent efforts and accomplishments.” In his keynote address, Rabbi Krupka spoke about the Jewish topic of tikkun olam (repairing the world) and how it relates to social work, which he compared to “G-d’s work.”

“If I had to rename the Graduate School of Social Work, I would rename it the Graduate School of Miracle Workers,” he said. “Because yes, we train our students in all the best policies, all the best practices, but in reality we’re training them in how to create miracles in other people’s lives every day.”

Special recognition was made to the Aging Education Fellows, Alema Ali, Rhea Mascoll and Dana Wilson. Military Social Work Awards, given to those who excelled in their work with the veteran community, were presented to Emmanuella Denis, Laverne Johnny and Alina Perez.

The Evidence-Based Practice in Mental Health with Serious Mental Illness Fellow Awards, sponsored by the NYS Office of Mental Health, were presented to Emily Gerner and Golda Greenfeld.

‌‌Two guest alumni shared their messages with the graduates. Chana Lazar, L.M.S.W., who presented her research on trauma at an international conference in Jerusalem during her second year at GSSW, referenced the biblical tale of the spies in her speech on determination versus resignation in difficult social work cases. “In our field, the question ought never to be ‘Can I do it?’” Ms. Lazar said. “The only legitimate question is ‘How do I do it?’

‌‌Marsha Crawford, M.S.W., GSSW ’14, reminisced on her time at GSSW and provided heartfelt encouragement for the graduates on their new path in life. “I might never see a million dollars in my life,” she declared, “but I know I’m worth a million dollars because of the work I do every day.”

At the end of the ceremony, relatives and friends cheered for the graduates as each came up to the podium to be congratulated by the faculty. Allison Bobick ended her remarks to the graduates with a warm welcome. “While today you are still our students, very soon you will be our cherished colleagues. Welcome to the profession!”

Dean’s Academic Honors with Distinction: (Students who earned a cumulative GPA of 3.9-4.0.):

Rachel  Assael; Shureba Khan; Shaindy  Schachter; Adele  Bissu; Stephen  Lande; Baila  Shagalow; Tracey  Bostic; Deborah  Negron; Sophia  Shaw; Katie  Fowler; Alina  Perez; Nina Tarabus; Emily  Gerner; Runita  Rajkumar; Heather  Taylor; Princessa  Gervais; Latoya Reid; Anthony Verdino; Liba  Goldschmidt; Hila  Revah; Chaim  Waldman; Lauren  Halpern-Klahr; and Pesha  Rubin.

Excellence in Field Education Awards (presented to students who invested more than 120,000 hours of community service in fieldwork):

Katie Fowler; Runita Rajkumar; Lauren Halpern-Klahr; Hila Revah*; Laverne Johnny; Baila Shagalow*; Aris Johnson; Nina Tarabus*; Shadea Johnson; Heather Taylor*; Nina Tarabus*; Miriam Klein; Courtney Wilson*; John Lopez; Carmen Quezada*; Deborah Negron*; Shira Burstyn; Anna Yampolsky*; and Pesha Rubin*

*Signifies special distinction