Night of Excellence celebrates 40 years

Written by Shambhu Sharan   

Monday, 27 April 2009 08:23 PM

Philip Popple, School of Social Work interim dean, delivers a speech among faculty, students, alumni and guests at the 2009 Night of Excellence in the Grand Ballroom at the Hilton hotel in Arlington on Friday. The ceremony celebrated the 40th anniversary of the School of Social Work through fundraising for the Honored Faculty Scholarship Fund and prospects for the school’s future. (The Shorthorn: Shambhu Sharan)

The School of Social Work earned the distinction of being the largest Texas social work program, Social Work interim dean Philip Popple told guests during the 40th anniversary Night of Excellence on Friday evening.

The event is intended to celebrate student, faculty and staff accomplishments throughout the year. Attendees included 142 School of Social Work students, alumni, faculty, staff and distinguished guests at the ceremony held at the Hilton hotel in Arlington.

The future program goals include development in the areas of collaboration with other schools at the university, funding and service projects, Popple said.

“External funding is increasingly important to the well-being and reputation of a school,” he said. “In this area, the school is making progress. This year, the school has attracted $4.25 million in funding — including a five-year grant to develop and operate the Child Welfare Technical Assistance Implementation Center and a Hogg Foundation grant to Dr. Jaimie Page for mental health.”

James Petrovich, a new research faculty associate, helped students provide assistance to homeless people on the streets of Arlington and Fort Worth. Other faculty members supervise and give consultation to families, children and women.

Field instruction director Ellen Murphy said students work as interns with the non-profit agencies, hospitals, nursing homes and child welfare centers to get some experience as part of their course work.

Between 170 to 225 students serve each semester in eight to 12 counties in the Metroplex, Murphy said.

Next year, the social work Freshman Interest Group will work with the College of Education to provide freshmen with opportunities to find and share a ready-made group of friends with whom they will share classes and activities, he said.

The school is held together by 31 full-time faculty, 52 professional and support staff with nearly 1,000 students enrolled.