Margaret Gleason: School of Social Work's Top 100 student

Margaret Gleason, a junior of Bachelor of Social Work Program at the Indiana University School of Social Work, was among the IUPUI Top 100 students to be honored last Friday.

Gleason not only goes to school full-time and works part-time, but manages to run a food pantry from her home. She picks up donations, organizes them and delivers food seven days a week, serving more than 500 people a month.

Gleason completed a Service Learning Project with Partners in Housing and continues as a volunteer for the agency. Her volunteer activities extend to Ivy Tech and IUPUI where she serves as a tutor. She has supported walks with the American Cancer Society, Juvenile Diabetes, Light the Night, American Diabetes and the Leukemia Society of America.

She's also found time to support and volunteer with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful where she has helped clean up and plant trees at Barton Park and has organized activities for Life Transitions, the Boys & Girls Club and the YMCA's after school programs.

When disaster strikes, Gleason springs into action. She delivered a semi-truck full of relief items to Mississippi for victims of Hurricane Katrina and when a tornado destroyed communities near Evansville, she donated tools, water and food for the victims.

Gleason also has been involved with academic organizations and was the president of Alpha Upsilon Tau for two years from 2007-09 and served as the vice president of the group from 2006 to 2007.

"MS. Gleason's devotion to service to others has brought relief and hope to individuals and communities," wrote Dr. Irene Queiro-Tajalli, Executive Director of Undergraduate Studies and Interim Director of the Labor Studies program at the School of Social Work.

Press Release Contact:
Rob Schneider
IUPUI
robschn@iupui.edu
(317) 278-0303