Indiana State University Newsroom

Abril Sims spends her days interning at the Wabash Independent Living and Learning (WILL) Center by participating in different support groups, such as helping set up for the craft groups.

Her internship has exposed the junior social work major at Indiana State University to a different environment.

"She jumps right in and takes control of situations, it did not take her long to get the hang of everything," said Randy Berg, an Indiana State University graduate and WILL Center staff member. "I try to give her guidance from one social worker to another and try to work with her on ethics and teach her management and legal matters."

Sims said she has "learned a lot from Randy. With him being visually impaired he has prepared me for my future and how to handle certain situations that I may come across."

Along with her internship at the WILL Center, Sims said Indiana State has also prepared her well for her chosen career.

"Indiana State's social work program has really opened me up to diversity and learning to get accustomed to it," said Sims.

The bachelor's degree program is in its 20th year of continuous accreditation and enrollment in the program has increased steadily to 198 students this year, compared with 83 a decade ago, and a new Master of Social Work program is in its first year at Indiana State.

"We love having a partnership with Indiana State. It not only gives us support in what we do but also infuses a little bit of youthful energy and enthusiasm that comes from the students who are still learning," said Pete Ciancone, executive director of the WILL Center.

Ciancone was recognized this month as the National Association of Social Workers, Indiana Chapter, Region 9 partner of the year in conjunction with National Social Work Month.

"This is very humbling, my influence of what actually happens here, at the center, is diffused through all the people down the hallways. They are the ones who are doing the work and making everything happen," said Ciancone.

Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/Other/Media-Services/Media-Health-and-Human-Perform/Abril-Sims-at-The-Will-Center/i-ZsFMqFX/0/L/March%2021%2C%202014%20Will%20Center%207550-L.jpg - Abril Sims (left), a junior social work major at Indiana State University, is serving an internship under the direction of Randy Berg, an Indiana State social work graduate, at the Wabash Independent Living and Learning Center in Terre Haute. (ISU/Rachel Keyes)

Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/Other/Media-Services/Media-Health-and-Human-Perform/Abril-Sims-at-The-Will-Center/i-LkNsVxL/0/L/March%2021%2C%202014%20Will%20Center%207590-L.jpg - Pete Ciancone, executive director of the Wabash Independent Living and Learning Center in Terre Haute, was recognized March 19 as regional partner of the year by the Indiana chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. (ISU/Rachel Keyes)

Writer: Beth Pickerill, media relations assistant, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3773 or bpickerill1@sycamores.indstate.edu