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| Donna Garrett, director of practicum at the Worden School, presents Vargas with his plaque for field instructor of the year. Photo courtesy of OLLU Department of Marketing and Communications. |
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Good Samaritan Community Services Social Worker Named Field Instructor of the Year
(January 8, 2008) San Antonio, TX--Good Samaritan Community Services' Santos Vargas was honored as Field Instructor of the Year at the Worden School of Social Service at Our Lady of the Lake University. He was nominated and selected by his industry peers for his 30 years of dedication as a social worker. Vargos has spent much of his career at the San Antonio State Hospital where his roles included Unit Director for the Bicultural Adult Psychiatric Unit (where families were primarily Spanish speaking) and he oversaw the Adult Forensic Psychiatric Unit at the Hospital. Prior to joining GSCS, Vargas worked in the Mental Health Specialized Unit for Bexar County as a certified Adult Probation Officer. Vargas joined Good Samaritan Community Services in 2006 and is currently a social worker in the agency's Department of Family Development Services.
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Iraqi War Veteran Finally Receives GED Achievement Certificate
Good Samaritan Community Services holds annual GED Achievement Ceremony
(May 1, 2007) San Antonio, Texas- Good Samaritan Community Services (formerly known as The Good Samaritan Center) held their bi-annual GED achievement ceremony on Saturday, May 5, 2007. GSCS is a non-profit agency serving families impacted by poverty through a variety of life-changing programs for people of all ages in San Antonio.
On Saturday more than 50 students in the Get2Work program, a partnership with Alamo WorkSource, received their GED achievement certificate at Our Lady of the Lake University’s Chapel Auditorium. Most of the students who have completed their GED accreditation represented the first generation in their families to mark the achievement of a high school diploma or its equivalent. Judge Peter Sakai delivered the keynote speech. Desiree Norman, Get 2 Work Program Director states, “These participants should be commended for not only receiving their GED but for seeking out a program that can change their life and seeing it through to the end.”
At the same ceremony in 2004, an empty chair on stage was draped with an American flag. The chair represented Brian Sanchez, age 19, who was on active duty with the U.S. Army. Brian is back in San Antonio after three tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq, where he sustained an injury from a rocket propelled grenade. On Saturday he finally walked the stage and told his story to the group of new graduates. Brian looks forward to completing his degree in finance from UTSA. GSCS Executive Director Jill Oettinger says, “Brian is an inspiration to us all. He has created a path out of poverty for himself, selflessly served his country and set a tremendous example for those who follow him.”
The Good Samaritan Center was founded in 1951 as an outreach mission of the Episcopal Diocese in West Texas. For more than 55 years the Good Samaritan Center has embraced the people and neighborhoods of the near west side of San Antonio. Today the center changes the lives of thousands of people each year through high quality child development program, after-school youth enrichment, college preparation programs, youth employment training and adult and senior services.
The Get2Work project is a comprehensive youth development program which promotes opportunities for youth to acquire the necessary life skills, education and work experience to enable them to have productive careers and become responsible citizens. In 2006, GSCS expanded this program to serve a total of 5,000 youth in 15 counties in Central and South Texas.
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Good Samaritan Community Services Wins Ethics Award
San Antonio, Texas- Good Samaritan Community Services (formerly known as The Good Samaritan Center) has been selected to receive the San Antonio Ethics in Business Award from the Ecumenical Center for Religion and Health. GSCS is a non-profit agency serving the economically disadvantaged residents of the West side of San Antonio through a variety of programs for people of all ages.
Good Samaritan Community Services was selected for this award through careful review of their practices with their clients, in fundraising and their impact on the surrounding community. GSCS Executive Director Jill Oettinger states “Being a recipient of the Business in Ethics Award clearly demonstrates that ethics are more than an ideal at Good Samaritan Community Services they are the foundation of our programs.”
The Good Samaritan Center was founded in 1951 as an outreach mission of the Episcopal Diocese in West Texas. For more than 55 years the Good Samaritan Center has embraced the people and neighborhoods of the near west side of San Antonio. Today the center changes the lives of thousands of people each year through our nationally accredited child development program, after-school youth enrichment, college preparation programs, youth employment training and adult and senior services.
The San Antonio Ethics in Business Award is an educational outreach by the Ecumenical Center for Religion and Health in partnership with the University of Texas at San Antonio. By engaging student, business leaders and the community together in this initiative, the Ecumenical Center intends to foster a climate of ethical integrity for our city. The Ecumenical Center is a San Antonio based non-profit organization dedicated to alleviating suffering and facilitating spiritual, physical and emotional healing and growth. Founded in 1967, the Center offers professional counseling in a faith-based context, education, consulting and a variety of special outreach programs. For more information, go online at www.ecrh.
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