The program, held in midtown at the Lander College for Women, acknowledged students for such efforts as leading and advocating for their clients and their profession as well as outstanding academic achievement. Students who participated in GSSW’s sub-specialty programs were also recognized for their work with older adults, veterans and their families, or the seriously mentally ill.

Each year the school honors distinguished graduating students who have persevered through great adversity with the Dr. Bernard and Sarah Lander Distinguished Social Work Tikun Olam Award. This year’s recipients were Antoinette Miller and Jacqueline Lino. “My experience here,” said Miller as she accepted her award, “has been one of growth, one of resilience, one of family and one of knowledge. I have learned that I am a Lander vision, but a Touro result.”

Touro's Chancellor, Rabbi Doniel Lander, congratulated the students on having learned leadership from the very best, Dr. Steven Huberman, dean of GSSW, and with Dean Huberman presented the Lifetime of Community Service Award to David Mandel, CEO of OHEL and founding chairman of GSSW’s Community Advisory Board.  In his acceptance speech, Mandel spoke of the valuable lessons he learned throughout his career, and he advised the graduates to seize the future. 

A special tribute remembered the contributions of the late Dr. Anthony Polemeni, former vice-president of the Touro College Division of Graduate Studies, who passed a few short weeks ago. “We said we were going to create a warm, personal family,” said Dean Huberman when discussing the founding of the school. “And the partner in that process was Dr. Polemeni.”

That warmth was evident and could be felt throughout the evening as students, faculty and staff celebrated with non-stop smiles, hugs and photos.