School of Social Welfare Senior Named 'BSW Student of the Year'
By Erin Frick
ALBANY, N.Y. (April 4, 2024) — University at Albany senior Brianna Lennon has been named “BSW Social Work Student of the Year” by the New York State chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW-NYS).
The recognition honors a social work undergraduate student who has demonstrated academic excellence, a commitment to social work, and active pursuit of the values, knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the profession, as defined by the NASW Code of Ethics. Lennon’s achievement was announced at a virtual awards ceremony held on March 28.
“Brianna Lennon was selected not only because she has excelled academically, but she has also demonstrated exceptional leadership, integrity and compassion,” said Shakira Kennedy, executive director of the NASW-NYS. “Furthermore, she has shown a willingness to go above and beyond, to challenge herself, and to make a positive impact on those around her. NASW-NYS could not be happier to present Brianna with this award.”
Lennon will graduate in May with a major in social welfare and an education minor. As part of UAlbany’s advanced standing MSW program, Lennon will continue her studies in the School of Social Welfare and is expected to receive her master’s degree in social work in May 2025.
An Early Start in Social Work
Lennon discovered her interest in social work while volunteering in a club called “Women’s Forum” during high school.
“In Women’s Forum, we would create lesson plans about mental health and other wellness topics like self-esteem, bullying, puberty and peer pressure, which we presented to sixth grade girls at the adjacent elementary school,” Lennon said. “When I was planning my lessons, I liked to incorporate games and activities to help raise students’ interest. The school social worker who led the club, who also became a mentor, was intrigued by this approach, and began to implement it in everyone’s lessons.
“At the time, I was thinking about becoming a therapist, but I was also inspired by a social worker on a Netflix show who worked with incarcerated minors. My advisor told me about her social work journey and encouraged me to pursue the field. That is how I got into social work and why I picked UAlbany.”
Commitment to Service
Beyond academic course work, Lennon leads a rich life of service on and off campus.
Lennon has been an active member of Middle Earth, UAlbany’s peer assistance program, since Spring 2021. In this role, Lennon spends around 24 hours per month answering calls on the Middle Earth hotline. She also teaches a weekly lab to train other students to work on the hotline and serves as the organization’s social media and education chair.
As a Middle Earth member, Lennon has participated in community service events, including tabling at mental health programs and athletics events and supporting UAlbany’s annual “Out of the Darkness Walk” in partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. In recognition of her service to Middle Earth, Lennon will receive a UAlbany President's Award for Leadership on April 13.
Lennon has also participated in UAlbany’s annual Pine Hills cleanup, “Red Bookshelf” book mending sessions, and assembling hygiene bags for victims of human trafficking with “Students Stopping Trafficking of People.”
As part of the experiential learning component of UAlbany’s Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program, Lennon is an intern at Conifer Park Rehabilitation Center in Glenville, N.Y. She also works at St. Catherine Family shelters, an organization dedicated to housing families and helping them find sustainable housing.
When home in East Setauket, Long Island, Lennon works at Transitional Service for New York of Long Island, an adult group home that helps residents work towards independent living.
“Brianna is an outstanding human being,” said Elizabeth Crowe, assistant director of undergraduate field education and programming at the School of Social Welfare, who nominated Lennon for this recognition. “Her human services work, volunteer experience and community involvement are a testament to her passion for helping others.
“Brianna demonstrates an unwavering commitment to achieving a more equal and equitable society, and her personal values of service, social justice, integrity and dignity for all people help her excel as a social work student. She is a champion for social, racial, economic and environmental change. She is a force to be reckoned with and will make great strides in this profession. I look forward to calling her a colleague in the years to come.”
Looking ahead, Lennon plans to pursue her Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) certification after completing her MSW, with a long-term view to seek a higher degree in social welfare.