Congratulations Alex Kehoe, BSW, 2021, NASW-NYS, Suffolk County Division Scholarship Recipient
"I am a senior in the BSW program at SBU. I chose to pursue social work because of my passion for social justice and advocating for transgender rights. As a trans person, I know how challenging it is to be who you are when you are unable to access the resources you need to thrive. When I started my social, legal, and medical transition, I experienced many of the obstacles that trans people face when trying to access life-saving services and care. After realizing the impact that these barriers have on a trans person’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being, I made it my mission to be a part of the change. During my senior year in the BSW program, I am interning at PFY because I want to help connect trans people to gender-affirming services. I’ve had the opportunity to write letters of support for trans people who are seeking out gender-affirming medical treatment and provide individual counseling to trans youth. This experience has inspired me to continue advocating for the rights of the trans community and those in need.
Outside of my education, I enjoy being involved on campus and volunteering in my community. For three years, I was an Outreach Assistant for the Center for Prevention and Outreach (CPO) at SBU, where I got to educate students about topics such as sexual violence, substance abuse, and mental health to help make SBU a safer and more inclusive place. In 2019, I received the Undergraduate Student Employee of the Year Award at SBU and on the regional level for my work as an Outreach Assistant at CPO. In the summer of 2019 and winter of 2021, I was an Orientation Leader at SBU, where I got to help acclimate new students to the campus community. I am currently a volunteer for Open Arms Food Pantry and Golden Paw Society. My plans for the future are to graduate with my MSW, receive my clinical license, and become a school social worker so I can work with LGBTQ youth. Wherever my professional journey takes me, I hope to inspire other trans people to be proud of who they are and to never give up on their dreams". ~ Alex
