Media Relations
University of South Florida
Polytechnic
3433 Winter Lake Road
Lakeland, FL 33803
(863) 667-7077
Fax (863) 667-7097
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Contact:
Gregory
Paveza, Ph.D.
(863)
667-7016
Lakeland,
FL (April 3, 2006) - A
USF Lakeland student has been selected as Student Social Worker
of the Year for the Heartland Unit of the National Association of
Social Workers (NASW). The Heartland Unit is comprised of Social
Workers in the Polk, Hardee and Highland County areas.
Heather Rimes, 27, of Lakeland won the award this year after being
nominated by Katie Simpson, her field instructor at Lakeland Regional
Medical Center (LRMC).
“Heather is an exemplary student with a 3.56 overall grade
point average, she spends many hours interning for LRMC’s
Mental Health and Addictions program and recently served as her
class representative on USF’s Masters of Social Work committee,”
said Penne Williams, faculty for the Social Work graduate program
at USF Lakeland. “She has a keen ability to work with others
as an advocate for clients and a leader among peers.”
In addition to her graduate studies, Rimes works full-time as volunteer
coordinator and public relations director for the Polk County Guardian
Ad Litem program. Guardian Ad Litem is the voice for neglected,
abused and abandoned children. “I recruit for the program
and supervise more than 30 of our 300 volunteers. I also go into
the community to speak to companies and organizations on behalf
of Guardian Ad Litem and the services we provide children,”
said Rimes.
“Heather’s dedication to the profession is obvious in
both her roles as a student intern at LRMC and her work in the Guardian
Ad Litem’s Office in the Circuit Court,” said Dr. Gregory
Paveza, USF Lakeland Interim Campus Associate Dean and Professor
of Social Work. “I think her receiving the award should be
looked at not only as an honor for her, but speaks highly of USF’s
School of Social Work and of the quality and professionalism of
the students that we have participating in our MSW program on the
Lakeland campus.”
Rimes said her interest in social work developed at a young age
when she often counseled friends through relationship problems and
offered advice to peers in trouble. Although she majored in psychology
as an undergraduate at Florida Southern College, Rimes experienced
great academic success in her sociology elective courses. “I
was so much more passionate about the sociology courses. They just
captivated my attention,” said Rimes. When applying to graduate
school, Rimes chose the Social Work program at USF Lakeland for
the opportunity to follow her passion.
Rimes received her award
at the National Association of Social Work luncheon March 23. Sponsored
by the Heartland Unit of the NASW and Lakeland Regional Medical
Center, the event recognized the accomplishments of Rimes and other
practicing social workers. “I am very appreciative for the
award and for the phenomenal education I am receiving, the faculty
social workers who teach in our program engage us and provide a
diverse foundation for our studies. I am honored to represent USF
Lakeland as student social worker of the year,” said Rimes.
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