KU News Release

Graduation stories: KU senior finds happiness helping others

Paige Giblin

LAWRENCE — Back when University of Kansas senior Paige Giblin was struggling to decide upon a major, a chain of increasingly tragic events overwhelmed her tight-knit family in Minnesota. First, Giblin lost her dog of 16 years. Shortly afterward, her mother learned she had breast cancer. Then, Giblin’s grandmother discovered from doctors that a brain tumor gave her just weeks to live.

Giblin, a KU sophomore at the time, wondered if she could continue her education in Lawrence while facing these emergencies back home. But guided by her ailing grandmother’s advice to “find a career you will be passionate about,” she decided to apply to the School of Social Welfare after visiting the school’s Web site.

“That helped me determine what I wanted to do,” said Giblin. “I wanted to find a way to make an impact.”

Since then, Giblin has pursued her education and life with a passion that would have made her grandmother proud. She has displayed both academic excellence at KU and a steadfast commitment to helping people in the local community.

“She has become a skillful advocate for vulnerable individuals and populations and anyone needing help will be thankful that Paige chose to become a social worker,” said Toni Johnson, assistant professor of social welfare. “She is destined to make whatever part of the world that she inhabits a better place than she found it.”

For instance, as part of her training in the School of Social Welfare, Giblin has been one of 30 KU students each year who aid domestic violence survivors in Kansas through internships with Women’s Transitional Care Services.

“Thrown into that environment, I didn’t know if I could handle a crisis situation,” said Giblin. “But working with these women has given me confidence. I’ve picked up women who were seeking shelter. I’ve safety planned with them. Because some women aren’t yet in position to leave a situation involving domestic violence, we connect them with resources and give them someone to talk to.”

“Paige has been fabulous to work with and has really developed into a strong advocate for survivors of domestic violence,” said Sarah Terwelp, executive director of Women’s Transitional Care Services. “She has been very flexible in her work for us, doing everything from stuffing envelopes to escorting a woman to court for a protection from abuse order. She’s been there for the women we work with and has been dedicated and reliable.”

On top of her studies and internship, Giblin also has volunteered for dozens of night shifts at the Lawrence Community Shelter. The shelter provides support and services to local homeless people and those at risk for homelessness.

“There are a lot of stigmas for people experiencing homelessness,” said Giblin. “Society just pushes them aside. I was there to give a helping hand and hopefully put a few smiles on their faces.”

Giblin’s duties included “helping with the night shelter, serving food, helping sometimes with dishes and laundry,” said Loring Henderson, executive director of the shelter. “But more important, it’s the human side of socializing with homeless people, sitting around the patio area if it’s nice enough weather. It’s really important when working with homeless people to make them feel respected.”

Contact with the homeless and with domestic violence survivors deepened Giblin’s desire to support those in need of social services. While at KU, Giblin traveled to Topeka on several occasions to lobby Kansas lawmakers to better support at-risk populations including survivors of domestic violence and children victimized by sexual predators. She credits her her new sense of purpose to her time at the university.

“KU has given me the opportunity to realize my skills and strengths as a person,” said Giblin. “I have had only positive experiences in my classes and feel thankful for the opportunities here. KU is an awesome university.”

Following KU’s commencement ceremony at Memorial Stadium on Sunday, May 20, Giblin plans to return to Plymouth, Minn., and her family, including parents John and Randee Giblin. Still following her passion for helping others, she hopes to find employment there as a social worker.

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