Alumnus Endows Jean Margaret Garvey Graduate Scholarship
From an early age, Patrick (Pat) Garvey (BSW ’72) heard about the importance of an education from both of his parents, Robert and Jean Garvey. After the untimely death of his father when he was 12 years old, Pat and his four siblings continued to hear that message echoed on an almost daily basis from his mother.
Mrs. Jean Garvey became the breadwinner and raised her family on the small salary she earned as the principal’s secretary at the Catholic high school all the siblings attended in Central Florida. For more than 25 years, she both intimidated and mentored countless students who crossed her path in this role. “Students were afraid of her because she was so direct and no-nonsense, but students also loved her dearly,” Pat remembered. “Students who did work study for her loved her because she was loyal to them and was willing to listen and offer her wisdom. She had terrific insight for the students under her wing.”
What Pat and his siblings heard most often from students, faculty, and staff who worked with their mother was about her exceptional ability to listen. Students frequently came to her for guidance and support, particularly about applying for and earning a college degree.
Despite financial insecurities as a family, Mrs. Garvey put all her children through college at Florida State with the support of federal grants, work-study programs, and scholarships. “She sacrificed for us, for sure,” Pat emphasized, recalling her sending each of them $10 every month in the 1960s when her salary was never more than $8,000 a year.
Pat credits his mother’s grit and commitment to education for inspiring him to establish a scholarship in her name at Florida State University. The Jean Margaret Garvey Graduate Scholarship was established to support social work students pursuing a graduate degree at the FSU College of Social Work.
“Financial assistance is crucial in today’s educational endeavors. I want to make a student’s life easier, at least financially, if they want to continue their education,” Pat stressed. “Like it or not, you can be exceptional, but organizations want to see the credentials behind you. A graduate degree offers that support.”
He added, “In my own life, I so valued the teaching and skills provided to me through my education. I knew I always wanted to be in a service field. I fell in love with the human, interpersonal relationships that social work classes afforded me.”
Pat earned his bachelor’s degree in social work from FSU and was an active leader in student government followed by work in child protective services until he returned to school to earn a master’s degree in public affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.
He and three of his siblings each completed graduate degrees, which led him to work for 30 years in public service in Texas and Washington, DC. His dedication to service was recognized by the College of Social Work when he was awarded the Distinguished Social Policy and Administrative Alumni Award in 2024. He credits his success to the interpersonal and organizational skills he honed through his education, along with the importance of listening skills learned from his mother, Jean Garvey.
“Giving back is the essence of our social work profession,” Pat stated. “Philanthropy is just one way. The College of Social Work teaches the values and skills, which I believe in and are ones that I believe offer society benefits.”
For Pat, happiness is really defined by helping others and living by these values, making the scholarship he created a fitting legacy for his mother. “Social work is all about service, giving back and opening up opportunities that help make life better for all,” he concluded. “The scholarship under my mother’s name, Jean Garvey, encapsulates her vision for her children and the thousands that she assisted in her career of getting a quality education.”
To learn more about how you can support scholarships and other opportunities at the College of Social Work, contact Development Director Paige McKay Kubik at pmkubik@fsu.edu.
