Date: May 9, 2008
Contact: Lindsay Gladstone
Governors State University
Phone: (708) 534-7090
Fax: (708) 534-8399
Email: l-gladstone@govst.edu
For Immediate Release
University Park, IL, May 9, 2008 - The newly formed Governors State University chapter of the Phi Alpha National Honors Society, the Omicron Beta Chapter, inducted its first class of honorees in a ceremony on April 11. The purpose of the honor society is to recognize excellence in scholarship and achievement in social work and to foster high standards of education for social workers. GSU honored 23 undergraduate and 17 graduate students in social work.
“Our students have worked very hard and deserve this honor,” said Dr. Maristela Zell, assistant professor of social work at GSU. “Our new chapter will continue to encourage their excellent work through high standards and community service.”
Undergraduate honorees include Kenneth Abrams, Jr. of Sauk Village, Cecilia Contreras of Oak Forest, Angela Ford of Steger, Kisha Griggs of South Holland, Valerie Hedrick of Calumet City, Elma Jackson of Dolton, Juanita Jenkins of Harvey, Vernetta Jones of Matteson, Kelly McLaughlin of Oak Lawn, Alfred Miner of Markham, April Nickson of Chicago, Bernice O’Brien of Park Forest, Sarah Pickar of Alsip, Torkwase Smith of Park Forest, Priscilla Southern of Chicago, Charlotte Thomas of Chicago, Tara Thomas of Joliet, Tamara Topps of Chicago, and Amy Young of Kankakee.
Graduate student honorees include Virginia Brunson of Chicago, Cynthia Dillon of Lansing, Ella Duff of Glenwood, Melissa Jeppesen of Manhattan, Delores Jones of Country Club Hills, Whitney McKinney of Dolton, Iesha Myers of Park Forest, Mary O’Connor of Bolingbrook, Karen Palmer of Kempton, Valerie Malone Pitts of Chicago, Cristina Rinconeno of Tinley Park, Zenobia Rouls of Dolton, Amy Switak of Oak Forest, Chasity L Wells-Armstrong of Kankakee, and Sherrie Wirth of Bradley.
Governors State University offers fully accredited bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in social work in the College of Health Professions. GSU is located at 1 University Parkway, University Park, Illinois. For more information about social work programs at GSU, call (708) 235-2235 or visit www.govst.edu/chhs.
