What Alumni Say

Angela Swartzendruber
Hesston, Kan.

I chose EMU because: I wanted a Mennonite education and knew that there was a good social work program.

Favorite class: HBSE II (Human Behavior and the Social Environment ), interesting to look at social inequality.

Favorite professor: Deb Stevens, former professor of economics. She knows everything. She never has to look at her notes during class lectures.

What do you hope to do with your major: Eventually, I would like to work in the mental health setting as a counselor or case manager.

What inspired you to get into social work: In high school, I worked with at-risk kids at an elementary school in a mentoring program.

 

Susan Burnett
Ruckersville, Va.

I chose EMU because: I went to public high school, and I was not excited about my college options. My assistant principal was from Harrisonburg and knew I was interested in missions. He suggested that I look into EMU.

Favorite class: Adolescent and young adult literature. I get to go back and read books from my childhood.

Favorite professor: Nancy Heisey, Bible and religion department. I respect her as an individual. My learning style correlates with her teaching style. She was supportive of me even after I left the CRAM (culture, religion and missions) program.

What do you hope to do with your major: I would like to work in an inner city school program with community-based agencies as a link between the school and the family of the student.

What inspired you to get into social work: I worked at a summer camp with inner city kids. I was interested in missions. I didn’t give that up with social work. It’s just a different slant on missions.

 

Annie Bontrager
North Canton, Ohio

I chose EMU because: it had a wonderful cross cultural program that interested me a lot...was familiar with the school and was interested in attending a Mennonite university...had heard good things about the social work department and professors.

Favorite class: social psychology and human service skills, because both classes are extremely interesting in learning about how people function and view the world around them and in acquiring the skills in which to be in a helping profession.

Favorite professor: Nancy Fisher, because she had the kind of personality that just reflected her caring and desire for the social work profession and people in which she came into contact with. And Luanne Bender Long because she applies the material into experiments in class that are fun and interesting to apply the social psych concepts into our lives.

What do you hope to do with your major: My values and love for people inspired me to study social work, but what really reinforced those values was being on cross cultural and realizing that I had the desire to work in social services and that doing anything else wouldn't satisfy me. I am inspired by others and their experiences to work with them.

What inspired you to get into social work: I hope to some day to work overseas some place in any kind of social service. I would like to get my masters in school social work, but then again, anything can change with time and one of the most appealing factors of social work is the flexibility and wide areas and populations in which you can work.

 

Wendy Houser
Lowville, New York

I chose EMU because: sort of as a last minute option when I decided I did want to go to college. They offered a better scholarship than the other places I applied. When I visited I was impressed with the people I talked to as well. The cross-cultural program also was really appealing as well.

Favorite class: Counseling. It was a refreshing perspective on helping people, was filled with activities, thought provoking questions and challenges and personal testament from the prof. It was also mixed with people from different majors which gave a lot of different perspectives.

Favorite professor: Herm Weaver. He taught from experience with honesty and was challenging but clearly enjoyed what he was doing, which helped inspire the class as well. It was nice to have a laid back professor who valued learning through experience, thought and exposure rather than always using textbooks. I also feel like I was also able to learn a lot form him and the class.

What do you hope to do with your major: I hope to work with children and families. I also hopefully am thinking of getting my masters to be able to counsel someday.

What inspired you to get into social work: I was inspired to choose social work as a result of the children and adults I interacted with who were victims of abuse, neglect or other negative living environments. I want to be able to make a difference in other children's lives as a tribute to those persons.

 

Danae Wenger Amstutz
Harrisonburg, Va.

I chose EMU because: I wanted to learn the skill of helping people from a Christian perspective.
Favorite class:Practice 1 because it teaches social work skills along with the theory.

Favorite professor: Ruth-Anne Wideman and Herm Weaver because of their love for God and the way they genuinely care for people.

What do you hope to do with your major: I hope eventually to work with family counseling within a church setting.

What inspired you to get into social work: I love people and wanted to offer hope to those who were hurting and in need of support. I believe that social work is one way of answering God’s call to serving others.

 

Cara Hershberger
Tyrone, Pa.

Favorite class: Macroeconomics - I realized how much economics affects society as well as how people effect the economy. It is more integrated than I ever realized.

What do you hope to do with your major: It changes frequently, but for now I hope to become part of an organization that organizes social services using the help of the people that need the services.

What inspired you to get into sociology work: The fact that I'll be working with people as well as for social change in some fashion.