安妮塔·菲茨休著

2022年5月11日

经过多年与毒瘾、无家可归和监禁的斗争，莱昂·伯恩斯在博彩平台找到了目标和激情的生活。

Those challenges fueled Burns’ desire to learn from his past, overcome adversity, and help others gain sobriety and independence.

伯恩斯在2019年转到萨克州立大学之前，在美国河学院获得了三个副学士学位。 化学依赖研究，人类服务和社会科学学位为他在Sac州立大学的课程和他作为注册酒精药物技术人员的角色提供了坚实的基础。

Burns, who is graduating with a bachelor’s in Social Work, is the recipient of 2022 Dean’s Award for the College of Health and Human Services. It is an honor given each year at Commencement to one student from each of 囊状态’s seven academic colleges. 

“My interest in the field of social work stems from my own challenges with addiction and related issues,” said Burns, who has been sober for more than 14 years.

“While I was struggling with the misery of addiction, I encountered remarkable social workers who encouraged me to figure out who I am and who I wanted to be. I ultimately discovered that I needed to be in social work and be an agent of change.”

伯恩斯在美国海军担任作战专家四年后，经历了监禁和无家可归的经历。 他敏锐地意识到，这些挑战可能会阻止许多人过上稳定而富有成效的生活。

“For this reason, I have worked with veterans and men in recovery as a registered drug and alcohol counselor at the D&A Detox and Treatment Center in Rancho Cordova, and Scotty’s House Men’s Detox and Treatment Center in Roseville,” Burns said.

在每家机构，Burns负责接待客户、评估、筛查和病例管理，并为酗酒、吸毒成瘾和家庭团聚康复小组提供便利。 

达尼塔·桑兹（Danita Sands）是“康复之路”（Pathways Recovery）的执行董事，她从男性和他们的家人那里收到反馈，他们会回来探望她，或者打电话告诉她他们的最新进展。

“What I hear so often is how Leon specifically was, by far, the most influential counselor to them in their recovery process,” Sands said.

她说，伯恩斯不仅是一名优秀的咨询师，而且具有高度的诚信和领导才能，包括转移和缓和潜在问题，同时把任何挑战都当作教学机会。

卫生与公共服务学院临时院长玛丽·马奎尔（Mary Maguire）也赞同这种观点。

“Leon is not only an outstanding student academically, he also uses his life experiences as inspiration for others in need,” Maguire said.

Burns’ dedication to serving others also shows through his internship with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition in 萨克拉门托, which helps formerly incarcerated juveniles transition to life outside institutions.

“While I was struggling with the misery of addiction, I encountered remarkable social workers who encouraged me to figure out who I am and who I wanted to be." ——莱昂·伯恩斯

在Sac州立大学，他也是反弹项目的成员，该项目为曾经入狱的学生提供法律援助、学习材料和其他支持。

“I have leveraged my lived experiences and classroom learning at 囊状态 into a life serving the 萨克拉门托 region,” Burns said.

“What I found at 萨克拉门托 State was a blessing that filled my heart. A whole community of people who are dedicated and motivated to help others.”

Burns plans to pursue a master’s degree in Social Work at 囊状态 to continue developing skills and expertise to support people in need.

2022年院长奖

• Education: Josue Vasquez’s mother had faith in him, and he rewarded it
• 克里斯·马丁内斯（Chrissy Martinez）回到家中，在疫情期间找到了自己的积极声音
• NSM：在地理领域取得成功并应对新冠肺炎挑战之后，丽贝卡·韦尔（Rebecca Vail）期待着一个更美好的世界