The Northwest Unit of the National Association of Social Workers' Florida chapter named Okaloosa Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel as Social Worker of the Year.
This award follows a lifetime of contributions to the field of social policy and, specifically, social work.
Ketchel was elected as the only female currently on the commission, and the first licensed clinical social worker to hold office in Northwest Florida.
Ketchel participated in President Jimmy Carter’s White House Conference on Families, was recognized by President Ronald Reagan for her work on the Social Security Commission and went on to work with the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means.
After moving to Florida over a quarter-century ago, Ketchel was appointed senior legislative director for Sen. Don Gaetz, during which she advocated and ultimately worked to pass legislation creating the Masters-level Social Work program at the University of West Florida, among other professional endeavors.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Ketchel selected Northwest Florida Social Worker of the Year