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An introduction at a reentry summit opened a door for Florida Atlantic MSW student Kawtar Elbekhty. Scholarship support is helping her continue the journey toward serving young people and strengthening community mental health.

When Kawtar Elbekhty volunteered at a Palm Beach County Reentry Summit in spring 2025, she was eager to explore how yoga could support the well-being of young people involved in the justice system. There, she met Cassandra Atkin-Plunk, Ph.D., interim director and associate professor in �鶹��Ʒ��Ƶ’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, and shared her interest in bringing yoga into a correctional setting.

That conversation opened a door. Atkin-Plunk introduced Elbekhty to Randi Taylor, justice services manager for Palm Beach County. Through that connection, Elbekhty began volunteering once a month to teach yoga to teenage boys at Palm Beach Youth Academy. She continued through the fall and spring semesters, building relationships and learning about the young people and the facility’s work.

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A Connection That Turned Purpose Into Practice

“Kawtar came to the summit with a clear desire to serve and an idea she was ready to put into action. Introducing her to our partners in Palm Beach County helped connect that commitment with an opportunity to support young people. It has been rewarding to see her build on that first step through volunteering and her social work internship,” said Atkin-Plunk.

Kawtar Elbekhty embraces the Dance Pose in Bray, Ireland, while taking part in the faculty-led 2026 CSWCJ Study Abroad trip.��

The introduction also helped Elbekhty see a way to bring together interests she had been pursuing for years: integrative health, justice, and service. At the time, she was completing another 200-hour yoga teacher training, this one with the Prison Yoga Project, focused on social justice and leadership. Today, as a Master of Social Work intern with Palm Beach County Juvenile Reentry Services, she is gaining a broader view of how professionals support youth through the reentry process.

Elbekhty now participates in groups at Palm Beach Youth Academy, attends client support meetings and court hearings, and helps develop a six-month program for youth in the academy’s commitment program. What began with one conversation has grown into an opportunity to contribute, learn, and prepare for her career.

“My time with them is meaningful, insightful, and so fun,” Elbekhty said. “I am grateful for this opportunity.”

For Elbekhty, yoga informs more than the sessions she teaches. “It’s easy to think of yoga as only physical movements, however there are many aspects that happen outside of postures and off of the mat,” she said. She sees its ethical principles as closely aligned with the values she is learning to put into practice as a social worker.

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Scholarship Support for a Future in Service

Her progress is also being supported by the , which selected her as its 2026 recipient. A first-generation graduate student, full-time employee, and single mother, Elbekhty balances her education with work and parenting.

Established in 2022 to honor Mike McNamara’s memory, the scholarship supports students preparing for careers in mental and behavioral health, with a mission of supporting frontline workers who provide critical care to people in crisis. The fund is now fully endowed and has provided awards to six scholars, creating a lasting source of support for future professionals.

Naelys Luna, Ph.D., founding dean of the College of Social Work and Criminal Justice, said Elbekhty’s experience reflects the impact of connecting student commitment with meaningful opportunities and support.

“Kawtar’s journey shows what can happen when students’ commitment is met with meaningful opportunities and support. Our College is uniquely positioned at the intersection of social work and criminal justice, bringing together disciplines that share a commitment to strengthening communities and improving outcomes for individuals and families. An introduction across our College helped Kawtar turn her passion into meaningful service with young people involved in the justice system, while the Mike McNamara Scholarship is helping her continue her education. [NL1] [SM2] Together, these connections reflect the power of an interdisciplinary college to prepare students to address complex challenges with compassion, practical experience, and a deeper understanding of the systems that shape people’s lives,” she said.��

Precious Skinner-Osei, Ph.D., director of the Phyllis and Harvey Sandler School of Social Work, praised Elbekhty’s initiative and the professional path she is building.

“Kawtar’s journey reflects the heart of social work education: connecting knowledge, compassion, and action to improve lives. Her commitment to integrating wellness practices with service to young people demonstrates the thoughtful, innovative approach we encourage in our students. With the support of the Mike McNamara Scholarship, she can continue building the skills and experience needed to make a meaningful difference in the communities she serves,” she said.

A lifelong commitment to helping others ultimately led Elbekhty to Florida Atlantic’s MSW program. Growing up alongside a profoundly Deaf brother, she saw firsthand how gaps in support can affect individuals and families - experiences that helped shape her desire to close those gaps for others.

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A Commitment to Care, Advocacy, and Community

After earning an associate degree in integrative health, she completed a Bachelor of Professional Studies at Florida Atlantic, studying online while working full-time. Becoming a mother in 2023 strengthened her resolve to continue her education.

“Ultimately, I fell in love with social work,” she said. “I fell in love with its ethics and call to action.”

That commitment extends beyond her studies and internship. Elbekhty volunteers with the Palm Beach County Food Bank, CROS Ministries, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and supports local literacy efforts. She also received Florida Atlantic’s Spirit of Human Rights Undergraduate Award, recognizing the advocacy she brings to her preparation for work in policy and direct practice with youth involved in the juvenile justice system.

Elbekhty credits relationships across the university with helping her find opportunities that fit her interests. She is a graduate assistant with Online Enrollment and Student Success, president of the Online Student Advisory Board, and health and wellness coordinator for the Students of Social Work student organization. She hopes to share yoga and mindfulness with fellow students and continue offering it to youth at Palm Beach Youth Academy. She is grateful to BPS advisor Sheena Orr, who helped her map an academic path, and to LeaAnne DeRigne, Ph.D., professor and interim MSW director, whom she describes as a supportive mentor.

“Kawtar exemplifies exceptional student leadership in our MSW program. Through her involvement with our Students of Social Work organization, she brings genuine enthusiasm, initiative, and a strong commitment to creating community among her peers. What stands out most about Kawtar is her willingness to turn her interests and values into action, whether she supports fellow students, promotes wellness, or finds innovative ways to serve the broader community. She truly embodies the spirit of social work,” said Dr. DeRigne.

While in Northern Ireland as part of the 2026 CSWCJ Study Abroad program, Kawtar Elbekhty takes time out for the Crow Pose.

Elbekhty expects to graduate with her MSW in May 2028. Looking ahead, she hopes to build a practice integrating therapy, yoga, and mindfulness, with a long-term goal of offering therapeutic yoga retreats centered on trauma resilience.

Her advice to other students reflects the approach that brought her to the reentry summit:��

“Say yes to opportunities, say yes even when you’re nervous. Nerves are just a sign that we care a lot,” she said. “Ask for help and surround yourself with people who believe in you. They will remind you to keep going during times when you don’t know if you can anymore. Community is everything.”

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