Melissa Aguilar |
Two seniors were recognized nationally Oct. 1 for their extensive accomplishments in social work.
Seniors Rebecca Tabor and Yuri Hernandez received first and third place, respectively, in the Patty Gibbs Wahlberg Scholarship through Phi Alpha National Social Work Honor Society. The society awards three students from a pool of candidates all over the country.
Both awards include a cash prize. As a first place winner, Tabor also won a trip to Louisville, Missouri to speak at the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors.
Alice Gates, one of three social work faculty members, said the director of the honor society called her excitedly to congratulate the students.
“He said, ‘This never happens,’” Gates said. “I think this is a testament to the fact that we have really an exceptionally strong group of students.”
Hernandez, who is also minoring in Spanish and psychology, grew up translating for her parents and doing community service in high school, said her social work major was a natural fit.
“Yuri has demonstrated in the time that I’ve known her tremendous passion and persistence.” Gates said. “She is exceptional in terms of really translating her passion about social justice, and fighting for the rights of marginalized groups into action.”
Hernandez has worked with various populations, including the homeless, children and families, and migrant workers. In addition to her service work, Hernandez has been a service and justice coordinator, diversity coordinator, border immersion leader and has held leadership roles in UP’s Chicano club, M.E.Ch.A.
“My service resume is, like, five pages long.” Hernandez said. “As a freshman you have a lot of free time, so every weekend I was doing something.”
Tabor has also worked with the homeless, as well as participating in last year’s border immersion. Her desire to dig deeper into social justice concepts lead her to pursue the major.
“Being involved in social work for the past couple years has been so positive, because I’m around a bunch of people that want to be a part of social change,” Tabor said. “To be around other people who are just as passionate about social work is really empowering and motivating for me.”
Tabor serves as a liaison between Phi Alpha Honor Society and UP’s student association of social workers. Gates said the two organizations are a great way to bring students with similar values together, while simultaneously engaging in difficult issues with the larger community.
Both Hernandez and Tabor have been involved in research with Gates. In the summer of 2013, Gates and Hernandez researched the experiences of undocumented immigrant women who lobbied for policy change at the state legislature.
“[We looked at] what causes people who don’t have citizenship status and don’t really have a voice, politically, to organize and lobby for rights,” Hernandez said.
Tabor has begun working on research in the same vein to aid Gates with a research paper about immigrant women.
Upon graduation, Hernandez hopes to enroll in graduate school and focus in community organizing. Tabor is also considering graduate school as a means of furthering her understanding of how to fight global poverty.
Tabor said that although some of the subject matter of social work is difficult to tackle, she’s benefited from her time in the program.
“[The work is] just so relevant to my life and my understanding of the world that it has been a really positive thing for me,” Tabor said. “The faculty in the social work department provide us with the tools to fight against some of the negative forces out there, and create a more positive world.”
Melissa Aguilar is a reporter for The Beacon. You can reach her at aguilarm16@up.edu.
