The School of Social Work held its 2025 Scholarships, Awards and Celebration of Student Success Ceremony on May 28. The evening was a great success, filled with many meaningful moments— laughter, a few tears, warm applause, a standing ovation, and a strong sense of pride and achievement.

Throughout the evening certificates for 27 scholarships, awards and bursaries with a total value of almost $31,000 were presented.

For the very first time, this year students who are part of our Nunavut Arctic College (NAC) BSW program were eligible for some of our awards and were able to attend the ceremony virtually. We were very happy to have NAC BSW student Presley Taylor smiling on the big screen as she was named winner of the Lyndsey Anne Antle Award in Social Work.

We were also very grateful that some of our cherished donors, or their representatives, were able to attend the ceremony and present their awards in person. Nancy Knight (on behalf of Marian Walsh), presented the Sheena Findlay Scholarship to Michael Butt. Donor Joe Butler presented the Andrew Harvey Memorial Scholarship in Social Work to BSW student Tyler Matthews, and the Elizabeth A. Newlands Memorial Scholarship in Social Work to MSW student Bailey Reid. Donor representative Janine Woodrow presented the Pauline (Eddy) Anthony-Kane Award in Social Work to Julia O’Reilly. Donor and friend of the School Lorraine Morgan was also in attendance to present the Mary Florence (Mugford) Lane Memorial Award for Social Work to Erin Hiscock, and the Lorraine Morgan Dean’s Award for Service to Humanity and Pursuit of Social Justice to Reagan Greene. Leslie Macleod and Beverly Clarke of the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) presented CFUW-St. John’s Undergraduate Scholarships to Maggie Walsh and Danielle O’Neill. Kim Kelly, RSW and retired student services coordinator with the School of Social Work, presented the Brendan Kelly Memorial Award for Social Work to Faith Bursey. Rebecca and Adam Dutton presented the Joe and Bill Green Community Practicum Award to Kristie Samson. Stephen Grimes, a representative of the Mosaic University Chapel Counselling Centre, presented the Victoria Legge Award for Spiritual Leadership to Hannah Drover. Elizabeth and George Sheppard attended the ceremonies for the first time to present the inaugural L’nu Sheppard Family Indigenous Student Scholarship to Mackenzie Long.

For awards where our donors or their representatives were unable to attend, School of Social Work teaching term instructors Isobel Keefe and Maxine Paul, and faculty member Dr. Fred Anderson, filled in to present the certificates to our award-winning students.

26 students were presented with 2024-2025 Dean’s List pins and certificates, including three students from our NAC BSW program, who attended the awards ceremony virtually.

The Deans Award of Academic Excellence in Social Work, the highest honor awarded by the School of Social Work, went to BSW student Hannah Drover, who was also awarded the Newfoundland and Labrador College of Social Workers (NLCSW) Student Award, and the University Medal for Academic Excellence for Social Work. Hannah garnered a standing ovation with this hat trick of convocation awards!

Congratulations to all of our students who received awards and certificates at the annual Scholarships, Awards and Celebration of Student Success Ceremony! We are so very proud of your hard work and commitment to your social work education.