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2018 BSW Student Of The Year
Woman Earns Degree To Make Mother Proud
DAVID EARL SHAW
David Earl Shaw de- cided to return to school as an adult student. Prior to en- rolling at St. Leo University, Shaw served four years of active duty in the U. S. Army. He also served three years
with the National Guard. Recently, he received his degree Summa Cum Laude. He completed the required field placement for his degree at Volunteers of America and is interested in eventually working for the Veterans Ad-
ministration.
Shaw hopes to work with
clients who have post-trau- matic stress disorder.
He is one of three stu- dents honored by external or- ganizations for their work in the study of Social Work and Psychology. Shaw was cho- sen by the National Associa- tion of Social Workers, Tampa Bay, as the “2018 Bachelor of Social Work BSW Student of the Year.”
He earned his degree under the guidance of Ms. Debra E. Thrower, MSW, Instructor of Undergraduate Social Work, Tampa Educa- tion Center.
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Earlier this month, Ms. Yvette Lewis was presented her degree in Education with a minor in Biology. It was a vic- tory that came about with per- sistence, dedication, and determination.
Ms. Lewis said the degree is a hard earned victory that took many, many years to ac- complish. “I knew I had to fin- ish. I wanted to make my momma proud. Lord knows I’ve been through so much. And He has taken care of me through it all.”
A Tampa native and grad- uate of Chamberlain High School, Ms. Lewis began at Hillsborough Community Col- lege. At the time, she was a Pre-Med major and had plans on entering the medical field.
After graduating, she en- rolled at the University of South Florida. “I endured a lot
MS. YVETTE LEWIS Graduates from FAMU
of adversity at USF.”
After encountering prob-
lems at USF, she learned that Florida A & M University had a satellite campus in Lakeland. So for two years, she worked and commuted to that cam- pus.
“That campus is closed now, but they really need a satellite campus in Tampa,” she said.
As time passed, other ob- stacles rose to block her path. First, her mother, the late
Mrs. Ella Mae Lewis be- came ill and Ms. Lewis be- came her caregiver. She passed in 2014. Then, she be- came the caregiver of her brother, Bennie Lewis. He passed in 2017 after a lengthy illness. And once again, she set aside her quest to earn her de- gree.
A longtime member of the Hillsborough County Branch of the NAACP, Ms. Lewis was elected its president in July 2017.
Last year, she was talking with an associate and the sub- ject of her degree came up. “I told her I hadn’t finished. But, then everything started rolling. I found out that I had all the credits I needed to graduate. I didn’t realize it,” she said.
Ms. Lewis, who gradu- ated with a 3.8 grade point av- erage, plans to continue her education. “I want to get my Master’s,” she said.
FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2018 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3-B