Six Howard Payne University students recently traveled to the Texas State Capitol in Austin to take part in the Social Work Student Day at the Legislature, sponsored by the Texas Association of Social Work Deans and Directors. The travelers are students in Dan Humeniuk’s Social Welfare Policies, Programs and Issues course.

“The purpose of the trip was for our students to get a sense of their opportunities for participation in advocacy and government processes,” said Humeniuk, assistant professor of social work and chair of the Department of Criminal Justice, Social Work and Sociology.

HPU students, joining students from universities across the state, participated in a legislative training session led by keynote speaker Ana DeFrates, assistant general counsel and legislative analyst for Senator Kirk Watson. The HPU group also met with Texas State Representative Jim Keffer’s legislative staff.

“Social workers and other human service professionals typically work with disenfranchised clients,” Humeniuk said. “This session taught them advocacy skills which can be applied at the local, state and federal levels.”

HPU students in attendance included Carolyn Barnes, a senior from Glen Rose; Brooke Goad, a junior from Carbon; Jennifer Goff, a senior from Austin; Angelica Gray, a junior from San Antonio; Paula Johnson, a junior from Spring; and Vanessa Marquez, a sophomore from Seguin.

Pictured – HPU students recently traveled to Austin to participate in the Social Work Student Day at the Legislature. Left to right: Angelica Gray, Carolyn Barnes, Jennifer Goff, Vanessa Marquez, Brooke Goad and Paula Johnson.