2 minute read
A global social work celebration!
You are invited to...the biggest virtual student social worker graduation of all time!
An evening of awards, entertainment, global celebration - and a few famous faces - are on the agenda, at a massive virtual social work graduation event being hosted this month.
Social Work students across the globe are being invited to join together for one night only, to mark their exceptional achievement at completing their degrees against all odds in 2020 or 2021.
And with social restrictions lifting this month, it’s hoped graduating students will be able to gather together with friends and classmates for the epic event, on June 23rd, hosted by social work trainer Siobhan Maclean, and the Social Work Student Connect team.
“The last 12 months have been incredibly hard for social work students,"
said Siobhan, a social worker of 31 years, practice educator, and author. “My heart goes out to everyone who has had to adapt to online learning; who has had placements cancelled, or suspended, or who has had to complete them virtually in their bedrooms.
“We know that lots of people have missed out on the big graduation celebrations they should be having, so together with the fabulous students and newly-qualified workers of Social Work Student Connect, I’ve decided to organise a huge virtual graduation.”
The virtual event will feature entertainment - including music and stand-up comedy - video tributes and stories, a digital yearbook, on the-night prize giveaways, and an awards ceremony.
There will be two Valedictorians chosen - one to represent the graduates of 2020, and another from 2021 - and the completely free event is open to everyone, including family members and friends of those graduating.
David Grimm, a graduating social work student, and one of the Social Work Student Connect organisers, said: “We know that many of the universities are hosting their own virtual graduations, but this is an opportunity for graduating social work students from every corner of the globe to come together for one massive celebration, marking an incredible achievement after a difficult year.”
Siobhan added: “I think people sometimes forget that social work is a global profession, and so it only feels right that there should be a global celebration.“
We also hope that the social work community will join us to congratulate and celebrate with the new graduates, welcoming them to the profession.” The ‘Be The Difference’ awards, which will be presented on the night, will honour the inspirational P Yusuf McCormack, who died of Covid-19 in January.
Siobhan, a good friend of Yusuf's, said: "He would always say, don't strive to make a difference - be the difference.
“We’re hosting our awards in his honour, and have asked people to nominate a colleague, a friend, or even themselves, for somehow ‘being that difference.’ And for students who have lost classmates, practice educators, teachers, or colleagues from within the social work community in the past year, there will be an In Memorandum section in the yearbook, which can be downloaded digitally, or ordered as a hard copy.
Siobhan added: “We hope to see you there for a night of fun, laughter, and special moments that you will not want to miss.”
