PITTSBURG, Kan. — From addressing mental health issues to collecting hygiene items for those in poverty, Pittsburg State University Social Work students continue to make a difference in the community through their various projects that they showcased Monday afternoon in Russ Hall.

Each year, senior students in PSU’s Social Work program are required to create and lead a project that benefits the community or the university. Students first turn in a proposal for the project that includes a brief literature review, an explanation of their plans, a budget, and a timeline. From there, the students create a flyer and press release while developing a social media presence and practice with classmates.

Through the project, the students can raise money, collect items, try to influence public policy, organize a march, or lead a voter registration drive as a few examples. The students then present their projects midway through the semester on the Oval. Monday’s showcase is the final event in that process.

“This is the culmination of our students’ really hard work,” said PSU Social Work Director Kristen Humphrey. “So, on this day, they get to present to the public the results of the projects they’ve been working on for the whole semester. This tells what their goal was, and what their outcome was. So, this is what wraps it all up.

“… It is very individualized. They have some parameters that they need to consider that meet the requirements of our competencies for our program. But, they really pick things they really feel personally passionate about and it’s really important because hard work doesn’t feel that hard when it’s something that you really care about.”

The 17 students participating in the showcase were Lucy Ashens, Lydia Ast, Augustina (Tina) Bosompim, Cathy Briscoe (Dongyuan Chen), Kayli Fox, Jared Harlan, Megan Henry, Alexis McRay, Halie Neal, Cameron Schmitz, Madeleine Warren, Haley Weber, Hannah Knight, Allaina Spencer, Kuturah (TuTu) Jackson, Mona Jurshak, and Jaime O’Reilly.
Collectively, the group assisted the Kaw Valley Center (KVC), Lincoln Central Elementary School in Cherryvale, Meadowlark Elementary School, The Family Initiative Inc., Thrive Therapy Center in Cherryvale, One Love, and Wesley House. In the past, the class has also helped the Children’s Advocacy Center, The Lord’s Diner, SEK Humane Society, and Fostering Connections.

McRay’s project focused on safety supplies for survivors of intimate partner violence, specifically those in the Parsons area.

“The issue I wanted to target was domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault because it really is a big issue in Kansas in general, but specifically in Parsons, Kansas, which is where I’m from,” she said. “… I went to the (Parsons) Police Department’s DVU (Domestic Violence Unit) and talked to their victim support about ‘What can I do to help the people you interact with?’ and she said the main thing they need is home safety devices.

“So things like locks, motion lights, door alarms, screws, reinforcement for doorframes. I was able to raise a little over $400 to go towards my items. I bought a little over $200 worth of items myself and $200 is going to the unit for specific items they need for an individual or just getting things for people.”

Mona Jurshak chose for her project to address food insecurity, creating artwork for TOAST and Pittsburg Bread Co.’s “Spread the Loaf” campaign, which provides bread to local pantries such as the Community Food Pantry in Girard and Wesley House in Pittsburg.

“What I decided to do was a fundraiser as an artist to makeup art and sell it,” said Jurshak. “I made these two paintings, and I made some prints for them that I’ve been selling … Even today (Monday), I’ve sold four more so I’m at 212 loaves of bread.”

The word “proud” is an understatement, according to Humphrey and McRay.

“I always feel very proud of my students,” said Humphrey. “It’s really exciting. They work really hard the whole semester. Not just on this but on all the other things they have in their life so it’s really a lot to balance. We really have a rigorous program, so they are working really hard all the way through. But on this project in particular, they really poured so much of themselves into it that I’m really proud we get to celebrate them in this way … I always feel like a proud momma.”

“The consistent feeling I’ve had just seeing, I just feel so whole,” said McRay. “We’ve all worked on this all semester so to finally see that come to fruition and truly see the difference that people are making. I know my project alone, in the most serious way, my items could quite literally save someone’s life and I know my classmates’ projects are just as serious as mine so it’s just a really beautiful thing to see a bunch of people who care to better their community.”

This reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/Localnews.