Nicole Lipari '12

"E-town has talented and caring Social Work professors that fully prepare you for a career as a professional Social Worker...Having over 700 hours of fieldwork experience has allowed me to apply my knowledge of theories and concepts in the real world."

Track and field. And fieldwork.

Nicole Lipari of Massapequa, N.Y. wanted a career in the healthcare field, and a profession that is enjoyable and rewarding. The social work field stood out because it would allow her to work with diverse populations in different settings. Nicole was recruited for the Elizabethtown College track and field team; she also was drawn to the College's small class sizes and the ability to form personal relationships with professors.

"E-town has talented and caring Social Work professors that fully prepare you for a career as a professional Social Worker," said the student-athlete, adding that one of the highlights of her academic experience has been her hands-on experiences in the field. "Having over 700 hours of fieldwork experience has allowed me to apply my knowledge of theories and concepts in the real world."

Nicole, who also has a minor in Spanish, studied abroad in Quito, Ecuador, South America for a semester. This educational adventure was more than taking classes in another country; she was completely immersed in a brand new culture.

"Studying abroad was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. While conversing in Spanish was difficult at times, I learned more Spanish during my five-month stay in Ecuador than I ever have in my life. I embraced all aspects of the culture by learning how to cook Ecuadorian dishes, dance salsa, harvest and prepare coffee and cacao beans, and appreciate the natural beauty of the country," she said.

In addition to playing track and field, Nicole is active in the Social Work Student Association, the environmental club and works as a Phonathon caller for the Office of Development. And, in general, Nicole enjoys living on campus at E-town.

"I love being able to walk anywhere on campus with ease. Everything is within a five to ten minute walk. It's easy to get together with friends and work on group projects with other students," she said.

After graduation Nicole hopes to go right into the field and work full-time at a social services agency for a year—her interests lie in geriatric social work and hospital/clinical social work—and then plans to get her Masters in Social Work the following year.

PHOTO: Nicole in Ecuador in front of cascadas (waterfalls).