Returning to high school twice, single mother by no means gave up on her dream of turning into a nurse

Deanna McHenry is counting down the times till her Could 13 commencement.

“I can’t look forward to the second I stroll throughout that stage and inform my son that this was all for him,” she mentioned.

The four-time Arkansas Single Mum or dad Scholarship Fund recipient will graduate as a registered nurse from Nationwide Park Faculty – her dream since she was 13 years previous.  As soon as she has her diploma, Deanna plans to work at CHI St. Vincent Scorching Springs and proceed for her bachelor’s diploma.

However her journey so far has been something however simple.

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES
Deanna discovered she would develop into a mother whereas engaged on her nursing conditions. She took break day so she might concentrate on her son. Three years after Carson was born, she returned to high school in 2020 — in the course of the pandemic.

ASPSF Program Supervisor Laura Lee Williard (left) presents Deanna McHenry, accompanied by her son, with a Fall 2022 single dad or mum scholarship. 

The scholarship verify she obtained from ASPSF helped the only mother purchase her first laptop computer so she might sustain with lessons and assignments. Due to COVID, the hospitals wouldn’t let college students in, so a lot of her clinicals and lectures had been on-line. However Deanna saved at her research, inching nearer to her purpose.

Then, new obstacles arose.

Each Deanna’s grandparents develop into unwell and died inside six months of one another. She had already misplaced her father to lung most cancers, which additionally took her grandfather. Her grades slipped, and she or he didn’t cross her lessons.

However Deanna didn’t let that cease her! She reapplied to the RN program a 12 months later and was reaccepted.

“I got here again stronger than ever,” she mentioned. “I knew I had to do that to ensure that my son to have a greater life. I knew I wouldn’t be capable to present him the life he deserves on a waitress’s wage.”

STUDENT OF THE MONTH
Deanna wowed the ASPSF Ouachita Regional Scholarship Committee throughout her Spring 2023 scholarship interview. To acknowledge her dedication and onerous work, ASPSF has named Deanna because the February 2023 Pupil of the Month.

“I couldn’t have carried out this journey with out the assistance of the ASPSF,” Deanna mentioned. “I really recognize all this program has carried out for my son and me.”

Congratulations, Deanna!