Giving is Helping the College of Family, Home and Social Sciences

June 2022

Academic Presentations

Abena Yirenya Tawiah received a grant to present her research to the Council on Social Work Education at its annual meeting in Orlando, Florida. As a master of social work student, she worked with two professors to conduct research and create a poster of her findings titled “Childhood Adversity and Risk of Social Exclusion and Emotional Distress Among African Immigrants.” At the meeting, Abena had the opportunity to network with other scholars, put her work in perspective as a growing researcher, and receive inspiration from others in the social work community.

Internships

To enrich her education in clinical psychology, Rachel Arnold completed an internship at the Utah State Hospital. She supported the treatment of adult and adolescent patients with severe mental illnesses by coleading therapy groups and writing patient notes. This internship gave Rachel a greater understanding of mental-illness treatment and greater compassion for those she serves. Thanks to her invaluable internship experience, Rachel plans to use her new skills in group therapy, anger management, and cognitive behavioral therapy in a clinical setting.

Mentored Research

Alyssa Pitts, an anthropology major, had her college experience turned around by participating in mentored research. She says, “Being mentored by an archaeologist turned my college experience from a passive one into an active one and was a huge turning point in my education. It allowed me to learn concrete skills, discover a passion for research, and take my knowledge beyond a classroom setting and into the real world.” Thanks to one-on-one research opportunities with her mentor, Alyssa is applying for graduate school with confidence that she has the skills to succeed.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Luca Sivers, a recent graduate in economics, had an extremely difficult first semester at BYU. Health challenges put him way behind, and his low GPA meant that he would not be considered for his chosen major and that he was ineligible for many scholarships. Luca got to work. After he raised his GPA to a 3.94, his progress meant he was eligible to receive donor-funded financial assistance at BYU. Luca says the award gave him the perspective and incentive to continue working hard. He is now working as a business analyst at a large consulting firm.