2025 Social Work Day on the Hill Master of Social Work policy presentation contest winners Ashley Spruill and Halen McGregor. Photo courtesy of Dr. Bethany Womack.
For social work students at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the 2025 Social Work Day on the Hill was more than a visit to the Capitol—it was an opportunity to bring real-world advocacy to life.
Day on the Hill, organized by the Tennessee chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, gives social work students the chance to see the legislative process in action while learning how advocacy can shape their professional paths.
“Social Work Day on the Hill is the culminating advocacy event for our profession during Social Work Month,” UTC Associate Professor of Social Work Bethany Womack explained. “One of our core competencies is being able to advocate for clients—and that includes advocating with policymakers who can create the conditions we practice in.”
Womack called this year’s event one of the most impactful in recent memory.
“This was a big year,” she said. “Our students had the opportunity to meet with legislators, including Reps. Yusuf Hakeem, Kevin Raper and House Speaker Cameron Sexton. We also met with Sen. Todd Gardenhire for the first time.”
In addition to observing committee hearings and meeting lawmakers, two UTC graduate students—Ashley Spruill and Halen McGregor—were recognized as winners of the statewide Master of Social Work policy presentation contest. Their topic revolved around the ethical and professional implications of a proposed Right to Die bill in Tennessee.
“They received really positive feedback because their presentation was so deeply tied to professional values and responsibilities,” Womack said. “It demonstrated how social workers can thoughtfully navigate complex, emotionally charged policies while advocating for the interests of patients and the profession.”
The UTC group also gathered in the Tennessee House chambers—a first for the University’s delegation—and attended committee hearings focused on education and public health.
UTC senior Emma Stidham, a Chattanooga native and graduate of the Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences, said the experience was empowering.
“I got to meet with Rep. Hakeem and I felt bold enough to ask three questions,” said Stidham, who is interning at The Launch Pad—a sober living home for women in recovery. “I asked about legislation related to sober living, mental health and justice-involved individuals, and he had some great answers.”
Stidham, who hadn’t visited the Capitol since a fourth-grade field trip, said the return trip was eye-opening.
“It felt like I was actually part of making policy changes happen,” she said. “Being in that room with people involved in these decisions was exciting. You see how passionate they are and how heated discussions can get.
“I learned that there are so many layers to getting policy passed. It’s not just a vote—it’s a process.”
Maria Camargo Pena, a native of Cleveland, Tennessee, also participated in Day on the Hill for the first time—though she had previously visited the Capitol to advocate against a bill she opposed. This time, she returned to speak directly to one of her representatives—Rep. Raper.
“As a social work student, I was already using my voice to advocate for people who don’t always have a chance to speak up,” she said. “Being able to do that again—this time as a student, one-on-one with my representative—was very meaningful. It really made me feel heard.”
Camargo Pena, who has been accepted to the master’s program at UT Knoxville, said the experience confirmed her passion for macro social work and policy advocacy.
“Our job is to push forward using our voices,” she said. “It’s how we move bills—advocating for or against them. That’s one of the core values of social work.”
For senior Lane Wick, returning to her hometown of Nashville for Day on the Hill was an eye-opener. Though she grew up in the city, she had never participated in the event and wasn’t sure what to expect.
“It was really enlightening,” she said. “Not just getting the chance to speak closely with representatives but seeing how engaged the community was. I went to an education hearing where families were speaking out together and it gave me more hope.”
Wick, who plans to work with children after graduation, said she was especially moved during a public health committee meeting.
“At the medical hearing, I saw doctors and surgeons advocating for children and gun safety,” she said. “It really hit home. It showed me that this is what I want to do.”
Though she admitted she felt nervous when she approached Rep. Raper, Wick said the encounter taught her a valuable lesson.
“I spoke with him and it was a very off-the-cuff sort of thing. I remember being so nervous, but I was talking to another human being about something that I care about,” she said. “That moment—confronting that anxiety and realizing I could do it—was a huge step for me.”
Womack said she sees the growth in her students each year during Day on the Hill and always walks away inspired.
“Relationships are the cornerstone of effective change,” she said. “Being able to meet face-to-face with legislators gives students an opportunity to be seen as professionals and peers. It’s empowering, especially for those about to graduate and begin their careers.”
She also sees the event as a learning opportunity for herself.
“Every year, I feel like I learn something from them,” she said. “Watching how they respond to policy, how they stand up for the people they’re passionate about serving … it reminds me why I do this.”
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UTC social work students in front of the Capitol Building in Nashville for Social Work Day on the Hill. Photo courtesy of Dr. Bethany Womack.
