WCSO SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR, DEPUTY EARNS FSU DISTINGUISHED YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD

Posted on December 6, 2024

A blonde female with a black suit and white high heels standing in front of an FSU step and repeat.
A glass award sitting on top of a table with "FSU Distinguished Young Alumni" etched on it.
A photo of a female deputy with blonde hair and glasses sitting in front of an American flag
Sign with FSU insignia indicated an award dinner

December 6, 2024

WALTON COUNTY, FLA— A member of the Walton County Sheriff’s Office is awarded for her tenacity in the field of social work by Florida State University.

Hailey Lovejoy, who spent four years with the Walton County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy, transitioned to serving as a Substance Abuse Counselor at the Walton County Jail earlier this year.

The College of Social Work at Florida State University hosted its 2024 Scholarship and Awards dinner during the 2024 FSU Homecoming week where Lovejoy was presented the Distinguished Young Alumni Award. The event honored six distinguished social work graduates and 112 student scholars.

The Distinguished Young Alumni Award is awarded to an alumnus who graduated less than 10 years ago and demonstrates outstanding leadership and exceptional contributions to social work.

Lovejoy, a three-time FSU graduate, earned a master’s in public safety and security in 2024, a Master of Social Work in 2020, and a bachelor’s in criminology and criminal justice in 2016 with a specialized focus on victimology and sex offenders/offenses.

She has dedicated her career to focusing on the intersection of criminal justice and mental health.

After serving as a sworn deputy, Lovejoy is currently working toward social work licensure as the substance abuse/behavioral health counselor at the Walton County Jail. Here, her primary focus is working with inmates on community re-entry transitions through the Walton County Sheriff’s Office Community Mental Health Initiative to bridge the gap in a county with limited support services.

“We are beyond proud of Hailey and are fortunate to have her as a part of our team at the Walton County Sheriff’s Office,” said Sheriff Michael Adkinson. “Her desire to widen the scope of her knowledge is a sign of her commitment to our mission to help in the recovery of incarcerated individuals.”

To read more about the College of Social Work at Florida State University Scholarship and Awards recipients, click here: https://news.fsu.edu/news/university-news/2024/12/03/florida-state-universitys-college-of-social-work-celebrates-alumni-award-and-scholarship-recipients/