Published on April 27, 2026 9:13 am
Last Updated on April 27, 2026 9:13 am
(CRAIG LOGAN {right} w/DR. HUSSEIN SOLIMAN, PROFESSOR OF SOCIAL WORK AT S-I-U CARBONDALE)
Craig M. Logan, a 2020 graduate of Altamont High School and the son of Mike and Patti Logan, will graduate from Southern Illinois University Carbondale on May 9, 2026, with a Master of Social Work degree.
Logan has maintained a 4.0 grade point average throughout both his undergraduate and graduate studies. In recognition of his academic excellence, strong analytical abilities, leadership, and professional contributions, he was selected by faculty at Southern Illinois University Carbondale as Social Work Graduate Student of the Year.
Dr. Hussein Soliman, professor of social work at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, said, “Craig has a highly analytical mind and consistently demonstrates the ability to apply complex concepts in meaningful, real-world ways. I strongly recommend that he pursue a doctoral degree, as he has what it takes to succeed at that level. In the academic year of 2025-26, I identified four students with the potential and ability to continue their studies and join a Ph.D. program to become serious, capable academics. Craig is one of them.”
Prior to his graduate studies, Logan earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Healthcare Management from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in May 2024, graduating summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA. During his undergraduate career, he was named to the Dean’s List each semester and received the Psychology Honor Student Award. Logan is also a member of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology.
Throughout his time at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Logan has been actively involved in research and clinical practice. He served as an undergraduate research assistant on multiple projects focused on autism, sleep interventions, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. As a graduate student, he completed his clinical practicum at Counseling and Psychological Services, where he provided counseling services to university students and engaged in advanced training in evidence-based therapeutic approaches. Logan contributed to research presented at the Society of Pediatric
Psychology Annual Conference.
Logan was also an 11-year member of Effingham County 4-H, where he built a foundation in leadership, advocacy, and community service that continues to influence both his academic excellence and professional goals.
“Through my experiences in 4-H, I found my passion for helping others and making a difference in my community,” Logan said. “Opportunities like Illinois 4-H Legislative Connection and attending National 4-H Congress allowed me to develop leadership, communication, and advocacy skills that I continue to use every day. Those experiences laid the foundation for my passion for helping others and helped me realize I could turn that passion into a career, which ultimately led me to pursue social work and continue serving others in a meaningful way.”
His journey reflects perseverance and determination. During his early school years, Logan faced academic challenges and was at times underestimated, but through his own resilience, he remained on track and ultimately achieved success at the highest level.
“I would encourage any student who is struggling to remember that the challenges they face today do not define their future,” Logan said.
Logan currently serves as a social work intern with JAMP Special Education Services, supporting students in a school-based setting, and will transition into a full-time social worker role next year, continuing his commitment to promoting youth mental health.
“In the rural southern Illinois communities I serve, opportunities can be limited for many youth,” Logan said. “In our schools, the 4-H Youth Development Program is integrated into the school day, giving students access to leadership, life skills, and experiences they might not otherwise have. That kind of exposure can truly change the direction of a young person’s life, just as it helped shape the path I’m on today. It’s meaningful to see those same opportunities continue to impact students, just as they have remained a part of my own life.”
“It’s a full-circle moment for me,” Logan said. “Working in a school where 4-H is present and hearing the pledge again brings back the experiences that shaped who I am. Those early opportunities laid the foundation for my passion for helping others, and it’s incredibly rewarding to now support students who may be facing some of the same challenges I once did.”
Logan plans to continue gaining professional experience in the field, with long-term goals of pursuing a PhD in social work or DSW and eventually opening a practice of his own to further expand his impact in mental health and community-based services. His achievements highlight not only academic excellence, but the impact of perseverance, mentorship, and community support.
“I am incredibly grateful to my professors and mentors for their support and for this honor,” Logan said. “Their guidance has played a significant role in my growth and success.”
