Each weekday, Arkansas Single Mother or father Scholarship Fund alumna Kathy Anderson goes to work at her dream job because the Library Director for Philander Smith College. She loves her workers and college students.
However 20 years in the past, Kathy nearly didn’t end her bachelor’s diploma. Her automobile was broken, and with out it, she couldn’t make it to her courses on the College of Arkansas at Monticello. Plus, she had 4 youngsters to feed!
Kathy didn’t know what to do. School was a aim she had placed on maintain for 17 years after dropping out of highschool when she turned pregnant. But she couldn’t afford each a automobile restore and meals for her household.
Kathy graduated along with her bachelor’s diploma in 2004 from UAM.
Then, Kathy realized concerning the single mum or dad scholarship. She utilized, interviewed, acquired her verify, fastened her automobile, purchased groceries, and continued her research.
Due to ASPSF, Kathy graduated along with her bachelor’s diploma and have become a librarian on the UAM Library, which jump-started her profession.
“The scholarship was a blessing,” she mentioned. “I knew schooling was the important thing to creating a greater life for my youngsters and me.”
After receiving her bachelor’s diploma, Kathy went to work on the UAM Library.
Nobody in Kathy’s household had graduated from school earlier than. Her success paved the best way for 2 of her youngsters and her grandson to pursue greater schooling.
Experiencing firsthand the multigenerational results of upper schooling, Kathy offers again by volunteering and donating month-to-month to assist single mum or dad college students.
“Any little bit you can provide is a blessing to a single mum or dad,” she mentioned. “Some folks suppose, ‘I don’t have the cash,’ however any quantity makes a distinction.”
Kathy went on to earn two grasp’s levels.
As a result of Kathy labored at UAM, she was in a position to hand her son Calvin his diploma when he graduated with a bachelor’s diploma from the college.
Calvin continued his schooling to earn a grasp’s diploma. He is now an assistant manger within the Little Rock space.
Kathy’s daughter Erica additionally graduated with an affiliate diploma from UAM. She’s now a particular schooling paraprofessional.
Kathy’s grandson graduated highschool and is now a freshman at College of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
Kathy’s 4 youngsters. Two pursued greater schooling, whereas the opposite two went into the army and workforce.
Kathy’s mom was additionally a single mum or dad and impressed Kathy to achieve for her goals.
Kathy, pictured right here along with her sisters, was the primary in her household to graduate school.
