The School of Social Work hosted its ninth annual Field Education Awards Ceremony on April 4, honoring the dedication and achievements of students and agency partners. This year’s theme was “A Shared Story.” Held at the Live Oak Event Center, the event recognized five outstanding students and community partners for their exceptional contributions throughout the academic year. Honorees were nominated by their peers and field supervisors.
“The field awards are an opportunity for the UCF School of Social Work to show our gratitude and acknowledgement of the selfless work of social workers and the impact they have on our community,” says Instructor and Director of Field Education Robin Pisano. “We received a diverse pool of nominated students and agency supervisors this year and always enjoy reading the ballots. It is important to recognize the difficult work our students do in serving vulnerable populations within the community. Our students are unpaid interns who balance work, school, family, and internship hours. Our community partners volunteer their time to support and educate students, on top of already busy workloads. Students and supervisors do the work they do because they believe in the social work profession and promote its sustainability.”
Field education is a requirement for students to attain a degree in social work. Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) students must complete 420 hours, Master of Social Work (MSW) generalist students must complete 400 hours and Master of Social Work (MSW) clinical students must complete 1,000 hours. The School of Social Work partners with more than 850 agencies in both the U.S. and overseas for students to complete their required hours. The sites are comprised of non-profit, government, healthcare and educational facilities. On average, 80% of students receive job offers from their practicum sites.
Congratulations to the 2025 awardees:
- BSW Student of the Year: Megan Sullivan (Seminole County Schools)
- MSW Generalist Student of the Year: Nicole DiMauro (AdventHealth Outlook Clinic)
- MSW Clinical Student of the Year: Polly Smith (UCF CARD)
- Entrepreneurship in Social Work Award: Kevian Lewis (RISE Community Solutions)
- Leadership in Social Work Award: Drew Greenwald (Orlando VA)
- BSW Agency Field Supervisor of the Year: Patricia Genao (Hope Helps)
- MSW Agency Field Supervisor of the Year: Heather Shaver (AdventHealth Outlook Clinic)
- Agency of the Year: Park Place Behavioral Health
