UALR Social Work Scholar Named ASPSF September Scholar of the Month

Arkansas Single Mum or dad Scholarship Fund’s Scholar of the Month for September 2024 is Holly Irons, a single mother from Garland County.

Holly first tried school in 2015 whereas recovering from substance abuse. She visited an grownup training heart and took a job aptitude take a look at. The 2 highest scores she obtained had been for an actress and a social employee. However after taking that take a look at, she grew to become stressed and scared. She relapsed and stopped going to courses.

This cycle repeated itself — get clear, return to highschool, relapse — for years till Holly “determined to take an opportunity and do one thing completely different,” she stated. “The final and closing time I used a substance was in August 2020.” Holly credit her Christian religion as the inspiration of her sobriety journey.

As soon as sober, Holly began working at Lake Hamilton Well being and Rehab as a laundry attendant. Supporting Holly’s dream to return to highschool, the nursing residence sponsored her to review at Arkansas Profession Coaching of the Ozarks to grow to be a licensed nursing assistant (CNA).

Holly attended Nationwide Park Faculty from 2021-23, the place she earned her affiliate diploma. In 2023, Holly began her bachelor’s diploma in social work on the College of Arkansas at Little Rock. Holly has been an ASPSF scholarship recipient since Fall 2023.

Holly Irons graduated along with her affiliate diploma from Nationwide Park Faculty in 2023. 

“I knew I needed to offer again to the group and encourage my youngsters,” she stated. “If somebody like me may go to highschool and do the issues, they may, too.”

Holly has seen her life rework by her onerous work. She earned her affiliate diploma and instantly started engaged on her bachelor’s. She made the Chancellor’s Listing in Fall 2023 and the Dean’s Listing in Spring 2024. She even earned a promotion at work by changing into the social director for the nursing residence.

However most significantly, Holly has seen her relationships along with her youngsters heal. Holly has a 14-year-old daughter and an grownup son. Since going again to highschool, Holly has observed her daughter making use of herself extra to schoolwork and exhibiting higher conduct general. Holly makes use of her versatile scholarship from ASPSF to pay her lease and spend extra time along with her daughter.

“Arkansas Single Mum or dad Scholarship Fund has helped me to see that there are individuals in our group who need to see others succeed and are prepared to assist,” she stated. “The donors of this fund assist break generational curses and create a unique actuality for not solely the mother and father however the youngsters.”

Holly Irons (third row, third from proper) receives her Fall 2023 scholarship from Arkansas Single Mum or dad Scholarship Fund. 

Holly expects to graduate with a bachelor’s subsequent fall and hopes to enroll in a grasp’s program after commencement and grow to be a licensed social employee. Her long-term purpose is to open a nonprofit in Sizzling Springs to assist youngsters whose mother and father are in a facility, jail, or jail. She is decided to make use of her expertise with habit for the nice of her group with these levels.

Congratulations, Holly, for being ASPSF’s September Scholar of the Month! ASPSF acknowledges your onerous work and admires your tutorial and restoration journey.