The 85th annual graduation ceremony of the University of Southern California School of Social Work was held on May 13 from the Lyon Center on the USC Campus, with 243 receiving their master of social work degrees and three completing their doctor of philosophy in social work degrees.

The keynote speaker at this year\'s event was Dr. Barbara Solomon, a medical, clinical and foster care social worker, as well as a former Dean of the Graduate School, Vice Provost of Graduate and Professional Studies, Vice Provost for Faculty and Minority Affairs and Professor Emerita. A social work legend, she is probably most well-known for her landmark book, "Black Empowerment Social Work in Oppressed Communities," which introduced the concept of empowerment as a framework for social work practice. She is also the recipient of the USC Presidential Medallion and the Rosa Parks Award from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

"The graduates of the USC School of Social Work Class of 2005 are not physicians, but they will help heal sick relationships resulting from abused children, battered wives, depressed husbands, alienated inlaws and substance-abusing employees," she told the audience. "The graduates of the Class of 2005 are not accountants, but they will help the people they serve balance assets and liabilities -- liabilities that include poverty, educational deficiencies, unemployment and poor health and assets to help them access affordable health care, income support, child care and job training. The graduates of the Class of 2005 are not engineers, but they will help build bridges and help traditional antagonists -- the rich and poor, white people and people of color, Democrats and Republicans -- communicate with each other so each has a greater understanding of the position of the other. The graduates of the USC School of Social Work Class of 2005 are not educators, but they'll teach the vulnerable and the powerless how to deal with oppression and the oppressives. The graduates of the Class of 2005 are not attorneys or judges, but they will be relentless in their pursuit of justice even when the cause is not popular."

"The Graduates of the USC School of Social Work Class of 2005 have been educated to be able to practice the profession with skill always in a context of ethical values," Dr. Solomon said. "Our communities, our nation and our world will be a better place because you, the graduates of the USC School of Social Work Class of 2005, will be on the job."

The student commencement speaker was Esther Moon.

"We came to USC with a desire to learn and use our voice to change the world around us," she said. "Perhaps we weren't prepared for what the program really gave us -- a truly deep, and at times painfully honest, assessment of ourselves upon which to grow and learn, transforming us to reach the highest level of emotional and psychological maturity in order to help society in the best way."

Assistant Dean Elizabeth Pringle-Hornsby acknowledged the student award winners.

Gladys M. Salit Award
Courtney L. Sterns and Matthew Wells

Dean's Award for Personal Achievement
Yesenia Valadez

Vice Dean Jacquelyn Mondros presented the faculty awards.

Sterling C. Franklin Award for Distinguished USC School of Social Work Faculty
Kathleen Ell, DSW, Ernest P. Larson Professor of Poverty, Ethnicity, and Health

Hutto Patterson Foundation for Distinguished USC School of Social Work Faculty
Helen Land, PhD

Jenee Areeckal, who also received a special award for her leadership role as Student Organization president, presented the Jane Addams Faculty Award on behalf of the student body.

Jane Addams Faculty Award
Nancy Meyer-Adams, PhD

A reception in the Gabilan Courtyard at the USC School of Social Work immediately followed the ceremonies.