Final fall, Kristen Toner enrolled on the College of Arkansas-Fort Smith with a long-term aim in thoughts: to turn out to be a home violence sufferer advocate.
“I’m obsessed with serving to ladies, males, and kids get out of abusive conditions and educating them on cycles of home abuse,” she mentioned. “I hope to carry consciousness and educate society in order that we will study early warning indicators and hopefully keep away from repeating cycles of abuse.”
Kristen has maintained a 3.7 GPA in her first yr of courses whereas elevating 4 youngsters by herself and dealing part-time. After she graduates with a bachelor’s in psychology and a minor in legal justice, she plans to go to graduate faculty so she will turn out to be an expert counselor and work along with her group to beat disaster conditions.
To acknowledge Kristen’s unbelievable dedication to her faculty and household, Arkansas Single Guardian Scholarship Fund has named the Sebastian County resident the Could 2024 Pupil of the Month.
“She manages her residence life, courses, and work with nice success,” mentioned Program Supervisor Christi Brown. “Via robust occasions, she retains a constructive perspective and perseveres. I’m so happy with Kristen and all she has achieved!”
Kristen mentioned the most important problem as a single mother or father scholar is managing the household’s funds. It’s no simple feat supporting 4 rising children between the ages of 6 and 13 and overlaying tuition, charges, and textbooks.
“Payments have been my largest stressor in addition to a figuring out issue on if I can proceed to complete faculty or not,” she mentioned. “The Single Guardian Scholarship Fund has supplied me with further cushion in order that I can maintain attending faculty.”
Kristen mentioned she has used her versatile scholarship to pay for automotive repairs, residence necessities, and even new sneakers for all her children. The help has helped her focus extra on her class assignments.
“I’m so grateful for this scholarship program as I really feel single dad and mom usually get missed,” she mentioned. “Thanks, Single Guardian Scholarship Fund. You haven’t solely relieved some stressors from my life however have additionally made me and my youngsters really feel seen!”
Photograph caption: Kristen Toner (again proper) is Arkansas Single Guardian Scholarship Fund’s Could 2024 Pupil of the Month. She poses for a photograph along with her 4 children and mother.
