[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 79 (Wednesday, June 17, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1152]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           SHIRLEY L. STORY AWARDED SOCIAL WORKER OF THE YEAR

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                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 17, 1998

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I pay 
tribute to one of Northwest Indiana's most dedicated social workers, 
Shirley L. Story, of Gary, Indiana. On March 20, 1998, Shirley was 
honored at the Annual Social Worker of the Year and Citizen of the Year 
Awards Celebration with the Social Workers of the Year Award. The 
highest honor for a member of the National Association of Social 
Workers (NASW), this award is given yearly to a person who displays 
outstanding leadership, commitment, and professionalism beyond the 
normal clientele relationship.
  Shirley was honored for her exemplary work as a Social Worker 
Supervisor at St. Joseph's Carmelite School for Girls in East Chicago, 
Indiana. During her twelve years at the Carmelite School for Girls, 
Shirley has instituted programs dedicated to improving the lives of the 
young women with whom she has contact. Indeed, she has created such 
initiatives as the Independent Living Program, where high school 
seniors are allowed to rent an apartment. The girls pay bills, 
utilities, and work their own jobs learning valuable skills for their 
future. Shirley is also dedicated to improving the field of social work 
as a whole. She is currently serving her second term as a 
representative to the NASW Indiana Chapter, which allows her to share 
her knowledge and experience with other social workers around the 
state.
  Deeply committed to the community through her work, Shirley also 
volunteers much of her personal time. She is actively involved in her 
church, the New Revelation Church, in Gary. Some examples of the 
dedication Shirley has for her church include her service as the First 
Vice President of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Baptist State 
Convention of Indiana, Inc., the Recording Secretary in the Progressive 
Baptist Convention Midwest Region, and a Co-Sunday School teacher for 
young women. In addition, Shirley is active in the Delta Sigma Theta 
Public Service Sorority, Church Women United, and the alumna 
associations of Loyola University and Ball State University. Though 
certainly dedicated to her work and community, Shirley is also a 
caring, family-oriented person. Her children, Chisle Leah and Vaughn 
Michael, are twenty-one and nineteen, respectively. Chisle is a 
licensed cosmetologist and Vaughn will attend Purdue University this 
fall. Part of a family, Shirley often takes care of her nieces and 
nephews, especially the children of her sister who passed away three 
years ago. In addition, she often visits her relatives to spend quality 
time with them.
  Shirley plans to remain with the St. Joseph's Carmelite School for 
Girls. With the opportunities for creating new programs, positive 
effects of the community, and helping individuals in need, she is very 
satisfied in her current position as Social Worker Supervisor. However, 
Shirley has not limited her potential for good works in the future. She 
is considering opening a consulting firm to broaden her activities 
throughout the region.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues 
join me in congratulating Shirley Story for being named Social Worker 
of the Year. Her dedication, service, and leadership to her community 
and her family has rewarded the people of Indiana's First Congressional 
District with one of the real heroes of our time.

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