Contact: David West (west@alpha.nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

12/10/2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES- Helping others is a part of everyday life for Paula P. Larvadain. The graduating senior at Northwestern State University will take another step toward her career goal when she receives her bachelor's degree in social work at Friday's fall commencement exercises.

"Helping others is something I have done all my life," said Larvadain. "And I have been volunteering for the past 10 years."

Larvadain is from Alexandria and earned her degree by taking classes offered by NSU at England Airpark.

"The social work program at Northwestern is wonderful," she said. "You can take all your classes in Alexandria without traveling. That is great for a lot of non-traditional students with children and families. They have a dedicated faculty who are very knowledgeable and care a great deal about the students."

Larvadain has worked in a transitional home for families. For two years, she was a court appointed special advocate for children, working with children who had been removed from their home and are in need of a permanent home.

This past semester, she worked at the Office of Children's Services in Avoyelles Parish.

"I had the opportunity to work with impoverished families and how to work within the system to look into cases of child abuse or neglect," she said. "That work allowed me to apply a lot of things I have learned in class out in the field."

In January, Larvadain will begin working toward a Master's in Social Work at Tulane University.

"The professors here have trained me very well. I know I will excel at Tulane," she said. "Working in an urban area will expose me to a wide range of experiences. Having worked in a rural area will give me diverse experiences which will be good to have."

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