ASPSF alumna first in household to earn bachelor’s diploma, now pursuing her grasp’s

Charlene Adams has so much to have fun.

Not solely was the one mother the primary in her household to graduate with a bachelor’s diploma in Might, however she additionally graduated with honors, a 3.9 GPA, and Summa Cum Laude!

Charlene, who lives in St. Francis County, even made time in her busy schedule to grow to be a member of the Pupil Social Work Group at her college, the College of Arkansas at Little Rock.

With such accolades, it’s no surprise UALR’s College of Social Work accepted Charlene into its advance standing grasp’s diploma program. This one-year, aggressive, and accelerated program admitted solely 20 college students out of 200 purposes. 

Recognizing Charlene’s accomplishments, Arkansas Single Mum or dad Scholarship Fund has named her the June 2023 Pupil of the Month.

“From the very first time I met Charlene, I used to be impressed together with her dedication, ardour, and work ethic,” ASPSF Program Supervisor Marci Langston stated. “With Charlene deciding to instantly sort out her grasp’s diploma, it simply confirms that she is an distinctive scholar! I’m simply so pleased with and impressed by her.”

Charlene stated her two daughters, Mi’Kenzi (age 11) and Alivia (age 7), motivated her to work exhausting for her dream job as a social employee.

“Being a mom means a lot to me,” she stated. “I need my daughters to know and imagine that they’ll obtain something in the event that they actually put their thoughts, coronary heart, and soul into it. I additionally wish to assist pave the best way for his or her success as nicely. Elevating them in a fantastic setting and having educated function fashions round them is my objective.”

Charlene was raised by her grandmother who wished the perfect for her granddaughter, too.

“Being that her highest stage of schooling was fifth grade, she wished nothing extra for my sisters and I to achieve success, educated girls,” Charlene stated. “This might be an achievement that I do know she could be pleased with if she was nonetheless right here with us right now.”

However incomes her bachelor’s diploma wasn’t precisely simple.

To be a full-time dad or mum and full-time scholar, Charlene needed to stop her job at Arkansas’ Division of Kids and Household Providers, a place she had held for six years. This resolution was exhausting on the household’s funds.

“To take care of, I needed to make changes to my way of life,” Charlene stated. “There have been instances after I felt overwhelmed and wished to surrender, however as a result of I’ve such a powerful assist system, I used to be in a position to surmount this and obtain success.”

A part of that assist system was Arkansas Single Mum or dad Scholarship Fund. The versatile scholarship test she acquired for 5 semesters lessened the monetary burden of college and caring for her daughters. Plus, the workshops ASPSF supplied gave her sensible {and professional} ideas she may use in her household’s day-to-day life.

“The one which benefited me probably the most was a workshop that taught us easy methods to carry out automobile upkeep,” Charlene stated. “This workshop taught me issues I didn’t learn about my automotive. The knowledge and data from that point interval are nonetheless very helpful right now.”

After Charlene completes her grasp’s diploma subsequent Might, she is going to take the licensing examination. She plans to grow to be a medical social employee and finally set up her personal medical social work apply. 

“To have great donors at ASPSF who imagine in somebody like me means the world to me,” she stated. “With exhausting work, prayer, and willpower, I might be profitable in every thing that I do. I actually look ahead to having the ability to give again to the neighborhood as soon as I start my profession as a social employee.”