Hauppauge: Students Make Connections Count

by Rebecca Endres ’15

This year the social work students at the Hauppauge Education and Conference Center have continued their dedication to working outside the classroom, participating in community service and working closely with the Suffolk Division of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).

The NASW division chose to honor a graduating Hauppauge student as the NASW Student of the Year, said Lynne Shulman, director of the Hauppauge Center social work program. The 2015 honoree is Fleeton Allan, M.S.W. ’15.

In addition, Hauppauge students have a history of being deeply dedicated to community service and, according to students, have participated in toy drives, suicide prevention awareness walks, coat drives and bake sales.

This winter, the Social Work Student Association made an alliance with a team of bikers, the Demon Knights, to collect toys for a drive. “One of our student’s father is a member of the Demon Knights and they hold an annual toy drive. They were looking for somewhere to donate the toys,” said Joanne Quinn-Beers, student affairs coordinator at the Hauppauge Center.

That’s where yet another connection came in. Students also reached out to the Long Island Women’s Empowerment Network, which had provided student field placements. “They were happy to get toys for the holidays since they have a large number of children in their shelter,” Quinn-Beers stated.

All of these experiences and opportunities to be active in the community offer students a taste of what it means to be involved in advocating for others. It also provides an excellent occasion for bonding outside of the classroom.

“Most of our students go through the master’s program as part of a group. They are able to form close and supportive relationships with their classmates and the faculty,” Quinn-Beers said. “I think this allows our students to really explore the profession and their future as social workers in a supportive atmosphere.”

“We have a bunch of students who are about to graduate and make their mark,” Shulman added. “It’s always very exciting to see students really mature, gain their sense of professionalism and skills and go out into the field.”