Social Work Student Named FSU Undergraduate Humanitarian of the Year

This year FSU President John Thrasher recognized 14 undergraduate students at the Humanitarian Luncheon, Tuesday, March 26, 2019, as a part of the university’s annual President’s Humanitarian of the Year program. This prestigious honor commemorates students exhibiting a tremendous commitment to service.

“Everything you all are doing, no matter what it is, whether it’s the life of a child, mentoring someone who needs support, seeing someone who his medically underserved, that’s what I believe Florida State University is all about,” Thrasher said.

Among these exemplary undergraduates, was BSW student Kathryn Casello who has been an active presence on campus sincere she started at Florida State University. Kathryn is a senior double majoring in social work and political science.

“I can’t express how grateful I am for the nomination and to represent the College of Social Work,” Kathryn commented about receiving the recognition. “My community service and leadership have been facilitated by an amazing network of mentors, peers, and community partners cultivated by the college. I’m so lucky to have support at every turn and be a part of the CSW family.”

She spent a semester facilitating educational empowerment and leadership sessions with middle school girls at Oasis Center for Women and Girls. Casello also co-founded You Are Not Alone, a youth suicide prevention program that provides training sessions in suicide prevention techniques and lobbies to raise awareness for mental health. She is also a field organizer and FSU chapter president for the Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus and both organized and led the February 2018 Florida March for Gun Control.

Within the College of Social Work and the social work community, Kathryn is also an active leader for service and advocacy. She is currently the president of the FSU Student Association of Social Workers, an FSU Garnet, and Gold Scholar,  and is the BSW Student Representative for the National Association of Social Workers Florida Chapter (NASW-FL).  She was recently recognized for these contributions during the NASW-FL Big Bend Unit’s Social Work Month Celebration as their Student of the Year.  

Each college selects one student as their nominee and each receives $200 to donate to the non-profit of their choice. Kathryn donated her award money to the non-profit, Refuge House. She noted her chance to work with this organization during her time as an intern at the State Attorney’s Office Victim Assistant Unit showed how much Refuge House changed lives with the work they do by providing assistance and resources to vulnerable victims of domestic violence.

Student recipients of the award shared experiences and reflections from their different service projects during the luncheon. The eclectic group of students included a student from each college with a broad range of experiences and contributions that set them apart from their peers.

Kathryn was selected from among this group of extraordinary undergraduates as the FSU Undergraduate Humanitarian of the Year, which recognizes the student who best embodies a commitment to service. This honor not only recognizes the student at the Humanitarian Luncheon but recognizes them at FSU’s annual Leadership Awards Night. The Humanitarian of the Year also receives $1,000 donated in their name to the charity of their choice.

“She is a role model for the college and has been engaged in meaningful service before and since her time at FSU,” Pam MacDill, BSW Program director said about her choice to nominate Kathryn for this award. “She lives one of my favorite quotes from Margaret Mead, ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.’ That IS Kathryn Casello.”