At a Convocation social June 4 in Windsor Hall, the School of Social Work honoured outstanding alumni, field instructors, graduate assistants, and student representatives with its inaugural awards.

Recipients included:

Wanda Thomas Bernard, Inspirational Leader Award
Dr. Thomas Bernard has been a strong advocate in combating racism and has led numerous School of Social Work events with faculty, students, community members, and staff. In addition to receiving the Inspirational Leader Award, Thomas Bernard received an honorary degree from the University of Windsor at Convocation.

Anica Butters, Outstanding Graduate Assistant Award
Butters was recognized for her demonstrated dedication to understanding the course content and motivation to engaging students in learning.

Alexandra Dermansky, Outstanding Field Instructor
Dermansky just completed her first year as a field instructor. Her nominators mentioned that she set “realistic, achievable, yet challenging goals;” helped students “improve and expand their skills;” and provided a “unique, enriching placement experience.”

Shelley Gilbert and Anya Gross, Distinguished Alumni Awards
Gilbert has worked at Legal Assistance of Windsor since 1993. She was the co-ordinator of social work services at Legal Assistance of Windsor for many years before her current role as interim executive director of the agency. She is a seasoned field instructor to many students and a frequent guest speaker on various topics at the School of Social Work.

Gilbert is a founder and co-chair of the Windsor-Essex Counter Exploitation Network. She also co-founded the Windsor Essex Sex Worker Action Group, is the co-chair and long-standing member of the Canadian Council for Refugees Anti-Human Trafficking Committee, and co-chairs the Windsor-Essex Violence Against Women Co-ordinating Committee.

The MSW for Working Professionals field team nominated Gross because of her outstanding commitment to student support. Since graduating, she has supervised more than 15 students and continues to offer additional placement opportunities each semester. She provides MSW students with learning experiences that are challenging, innovative, and responsive to community needs.

Cynthia Kandi, Outstanding Field Instructor Award
Kandi is a seasoned social worker who currently works with Hamilton Health Sciences in its Special Immunology Services Clinic. The clinic provides outpatient care for children and adults who are HIV-positive. Before joining Hamilton Health Sciences, she worked in the violence against women sector as a counsellor and transitional support worker.

Under secondment from Good Shepherd Women’s Services, she worked with in the Domestic Violence Response Team of the Catholic Children’s Aid Society in Hamilton. In addition to this, Kandi had the opportunity to work with Wesley Urban Ministries as a street outreach worker and Native Women’s Centre as a relief crisis intervention worker.

Find more information in the School of Social Work newsletter.