Smith Overcomes Serious Struggles to Receive Owens Outstanding Social Work Graduate Award
Hannah Smith never thought she’d attend college, much less graduate. But at 28 years old, Smith is not only graduating from Owens Community College with an Associate Degree in Social Work in fall 2025, but she’s also the program’s outstanding graduate.
Smith’s road has been treacherous and rarely easy. She attended multiple schools, living in various states before dropping out as an 18-year-old. Her struggles didn’t end there, though, as she battled mental health problems and substance abuse. She’s now proudly five years sober.
Three years ago, everything changed for Smith as she became a mom. Luna serves as a major motivator for Smith to continue working on improving her life.
“I really want to be someone that she’s proud of,” Smith said. “I really wanted to be a strong woman that she could look up to and get my degree.”
Smith started at Owens when Luna was only six months old, so she admitted it took a lot of help to manage being a parent with schoolwork. She credited her Nana as well as The Nest, a non-profit daycare in Bowling Green that provides free childcare services for students. It hosts a weekly support group for the parents as well.
“If it wasn’t for The Nest, I would have never been able to go to school because I wouldn’t be able to afford safe childcare for my daughter,” Smith said.
When starting at Owens as an older student with previous personal and educational struggles, she also had to overcome feelings of imposter syndrome. Now, she said her class days are her favorite days of the week.
“I’ve loved going to lectures and learning more about the world around me,” she said. “The social work department, specifically Professor Jodi Gore, has had a huge impact on helping build my confidence and reminding me that I can do this.”
After high school, Smith had no idea what she wanted to do with her life. Through her struggles, she found her calling in helping others who have faced some of the same issues she had, saying her life experiences brought her here.
While Gore admitted she doesn’t know every detail of Smith’s journey, she said it’s been “more than her fair share.” She added that Smith has been an asset to the Owens program.
“I do know that she has worked incredibly hard throughout her time with us—balancing her studies, employment and family responsibilities with remarkable perseverance,” Gore said. “Hannah is exceptionally bright, articulate and deeply committed to social justice. She is a supportive and kind peer, and I am consistently impressed by how well-informed she is about current events, an essential quality for anyone striving to create meaningful change.
“I have no doubt that she will become an outstanding social worker and will make a powerful, positive impact in the world.”
Smith will continue working as a shelter advocate at The Cocoon, a domestic and sexual violence agency in Wood County that provides shelter and advocacy services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, sex trafficking, stalking and adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
She will continue her education at Bowling Green State University, where she will complete her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work on the way to becoming a licensed social worker.
While she admits being nervous to go from the comfortable, small class sizes at Owens to larger classes, there’s little else stopping Smith from making an impact on the world around her. She’s already come too far to turn back now.
“I can’t believe I’m actually doing it,” Smith said. “Even five years ago, if someone had said I was going to go to college, I wouldn’t have believed them.”