Official Project Working Mom Blog : American Sentinel University

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Janice Sykes

Victoria — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:47:00 GMT

Janice Sykes

RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing
American Sentinel University

I am applying for the RN to BSN online scholarship. I would like to give you a little background and tell you why this is so important to me.

At the age of nineteen young years I got married. I didn't have to but just wanted marriage and children more than anything else. I had graduated from high school at seventeen and gone to college for just one semester. I then began a job working as a pharmacy technician at the local pharmacy. It didn't surprise me that I enjoyed this job because in addition to having children, I had also always wanted to be a nurse. After a year, I became pregnant and stayed home to care for my daughter and eventually two daughters. I did this for eighteen years. Everyone knows that as a mother you are also a part-time nurse.

My next step in the medical field was to get hired at a local family physicians office as his receptionist, progressing to insurance billing and doing some work as a medical assistant. I was trained to do phlebotomy, allergy injections, and some health histories. This was enough, combined with the fact that my daughters were both in college, to entice me to sign up for the nursing program at the local community college. I was 42-years-old.

After graduating, with honors, and passing my state boards, I began work at a residential home for abused and neglected children. I am very interested in psychiatric nursing and this seemed like a wonderful start to my nursing career. I also love working with children so this was a perfect fit. When the nurse manager mentioned to one of the psychiatrists that she had hired a nurse fresh out of college he expressed concern. She noted, She's a Mom. She later told me he just nodded and said, Oh, that's good. He no longer had concerns.

After a few years and change in management, I found myself doing less and less nursing. I moved on to home health. Having been out of clinical nursing for a few years, I wasn't completely comfortable with some of the more technical aspects of nursing, particularly IVs, trachs, etc. However, being very compassionate and with maturity and good people skills, I was offered the opportunity to be a care manager at the home health agency. This agency dealt strictly with neurotrauma. While there I became certified as a brain injury specialist. I learned a great deal. I was hired as temporary when someone had quit but was asked to continue as permanent because of the good rapport I had with the patients and their families. I also worked very well with the team of specialist involved with neurotrauma patients. I had requested part-time and when the position became full time after two years, I chose to move on.

I ended up working for one of the major hospitals in the area; all in management type positions, ranging from health educator in the worksite wellness program, to case manager in the wound care center. After seven years of nursing, I realized that I had never worked much as a nurse but more as a nurse manager. I believe I received these positions due to my maturity and general knowledge of medicine. I also believe I subconsciously sought them out. I knew I never had any strong desire to work on a hospital floor. I am more of what I refer to as a paper nurse.

I continue to work as an independent contractor for a neurotrauma patient with diabetes in a home health setting. I handle all her medical management and act as her patient advocate. I have reached the point where I need to expand my nursing career. I recently became certified as an insulin pump trainer after working with my home health patient as she began the use of a pump. However, there aren't many opportunities to use this skill.

As my patient is becoming more independent, I am finding myself looking for expanded positions and finding that isn't possible without a bachelors degree. I have been out of nursing school for too long to be considered a new nurse and yet I haven't kept up my clinical skills due to the nature of the positions I have held.

I feel that I have an important role in nursing. I have the compassion, the medical knowledge-always seeking to learn more, and the ambition to take my nursing to new heights.

This scholarship is very important to me because without it there is no way I can achieve my dream of working in the capacity of nursing I would like. I am very interested in working in research or teaching. I will need a bachelors degree to fulfill the role of nursing I am most deeply interested in. I wish to take my nursing skills to depths that I am not as able to obtain in a hospital or office setting.

Please consider me for this scholarship. I am now 53-years-old and have committed to everything I've done. I have remained married to the same person since I was nineteen, I devoted my young years to my children, and then to my grandchildren. Now the grandchildren are starting school, my daughters are busy mothers and also pursuing their other dreams.

I am in the next phase of my life. As a working mother, grandmother, and wife, I feel I fit the criteria of this scholarship even though my children aren't living at home at the present time. I baby sit for my four, soon to be five grandchildren, and am juggling family with work as much as any young mother at home. I will also be having the new baby to assist with care for very soon. I feel that at 53-years-old, this is my last chance to achieve this goal I have set for myself. If I don't get this opportunity, I might never get the chance.

Thank you so much for considering me for this scholarship. With the commitment I have to my home health patient and to my family, online RN to BSN would be the best, if not the only way, to get this degree. Having my bachelors degree in nursing would mean so much to me.

Sincerely,

Janice Sykes, RN

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Lexa Montierth

Victoria — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:38:00 GMT

Lexa Montierth

Bachelor of Science in Web Design and Development
American Sentinel University

I was raised with four brothers and no sisters. It seemed to me that I always had a silent competition going on with my brothers about which of us was better doing this or that. If my brothers were participating I felt I needed to try it, and do it better. I rarely succeed at the "better" part, but I did learn many skills that my female counterparts at the time were not interested in learning, such as computers and electronics. My brothers have all gone to college and ended up in successful careers. This is where I took a different turn in life, because I chose to be a stay at home mother instead.

When I was born, neither parent had a college degree. My father was a construction superintendent and my mother was a stay at home mom. My father struggled to compete in the workforce without a college degree and was often overlooked in job opportunities because of the lack of one.

In 1990, when I was twelve-years-old, my father (then 42) went back to college and received his Bachelor's of Science Degree in Management. From that time forward, he has been able to double his salary and find more opportunities in his line of work.

My mother was never able to go back to college, and found herself in a predicament when she wanted to head into the job force after raising the children. She found it near impossible to find a job that she had the necessary skills for.

As I watched her struggle to find a career, and obtain employment, being a college graduate has become more important to me. My children rely on me to provide a quality of life that includes helping them develop to their full potential. If it were necessary to completely support them on my own, I wouldn't have the skills necessary to obtain employment beyond minimum wage pay.

In 1996, I graduated from high school, and started attending the local community college. I had a love of music, business, and an insatiable thirst for knowledge. I enjoyed watching people and seeing how they interacted, and was often the friend who others came to for advice. I decided to pursue a degree in psychology at that time because I believed I could help others with their problems. As part of my fee for tuition, I took a part-time job in the campus media center helping others on the computers and teaching them the various software programs such as Word and Excel, and how to use the Internet. I enjoyed the window of the world opened by the Internet, and found myself not only visiting the various sites, but also learning how to create them.

I created my first personal Web site in late 1996 and enjoyed having my own little piece of the web, so to speak. To play with HTML and to teach myself HTML code was a fun hobby and past time. I would view source code of my favorite Web sites of the time, and try and duplicate sites that mimicked the style.

I was married in 1997, and had my first child at the end of 1998. Finances were tight, and I decided it was better for me to stay at home with our child instead of trying to pursue my education at the time. I was unsure of my degree of choice, and felt it better to wait to know what I wanted to do with my life.

In 2000, we were blessed with another child, and my husband entered into a law enforcement academy the same week. We moved across state and I met many other mothers in our new residence. I was surprised how many of them had degrees and careers while balancing motherhood. Even those who were no longer working had the education and skills necessary that if they needed to work, they could find a job. For the first time, I really started wondering what I would do if something would happen to my husband. Working in law enforcement, the possibility of me becoming a widow or divorced greatly increased above the average.

I went back to see if I could develop my computer skills and realized the years I had been away from the Internet had put me at a disadvantage. Programs such as Dreamweaver had replaced the need to write HTML from scratch, and individual Web sites could be created in minutes with online site wizards. My skills in word processing, 10-key, and spreadsheets that was in demand in 1996 was now filled by every high school graduate.

I was thankful that there wasn't an immediate need for me to go to work, and decided I needed to get my degree and head back to school. I signed up at the local community college, got a schedule and prepared for the first day of class. The reality was college was still very expensive and child care was difficult to find for two young children. My husband's career choice had left me with an unpredictable schedule, because of rotating shifts and days off. If I were to head back to school, I would have to have a flexible schedule. I decided to put off school once again until I could solve the time restraints.

We welcomed two more children into our lives, and I tried to learn what I could online and on my own. I continued having a nagging feeling that I needed to head back to school and obtain an education, but time and money continued to be the main obstacle holding me back.

In 2006, with the cost of living rising, we realized that I needed to bring in extra income. I attended Real Estate School and became a Realtor®. I enjoyed helping people, but the housing market took a turn for the worst, and as a developing real estate agent I found I was spending more money than I ever would have come back in. I had created my own Web site to advertise, and those who saw it were impressed and wanted me to create one for their businesses. I didn't feel that I had enough knowledge to create what people really wanted from their Web sites, and declined.

Looking over the past, I realize that the constant in my life always comes back to the Internet. I have tried to learn more about creating Web sites on my own, but technology seems to take giant leaps as I learn in baby steps. I still look at source code and try and mimic Web sites. I have creative ideas, but without the knowledge of how to implement them it has been frustrating.

With four children, I constantly worry that without an education, I will not be able to support them or to bring in any extra income. Traditional universities still pose a problem with my schedule because of my husband's job schedule restraints and detail positions he fills in various parts of the United States. Three of my four children are now in school full time, with the littlest attending preschool now.

I realize that I need an education, but the time constraints of meeting four young children's schedules and my husbands work schedule makes it near impossible to head back to a college campus. Online education is an answer to both obtaining my degree and not having to sacrifice being away from my children to attend classes.

I do not want to waste the opportunity I have now to obtain my education, and then possibly end up in a situation where I cannot provide for my family. Like many Americans, our budget is stretched and one emergency situation could put us over the edge. I believe if I had the knowledge necessary to obtain a higher paying job, I could save for my children's future, and for my retirement.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Rebecca Peyrefitte

Victoria — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:13:00 GMT

Rebecca Peyrefitte

RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing
American Sentinel University

I was an LVN for 20 years I worked for Loma Linda Medical University Medical Center for 15 years as a Pediatric Nurse. I was happily married to my husband and raising my children in Redlands, Ca. during the year of 2003 I decided to go back to school to get my Associate's degree in Nursing.

I applied to Excelsior College and started in their program for the LVN's to RN program. I started out with three other nurses from Loma Linda. We took a course offered by Dr. Frye in Riverside to prepare us for the nursing concepts exams, they were comprehensive tests we were required to take for the program there was seven total.

Dr. Frye was very entertaining and when he taught, he had a way of making you remember the important points and cues you had to recall when you took an exam. My three friends dropped out of the class, however on the last day of the classes I befriended another student who became my study buddy, and companion. She was about to become a support for me during one of the most difficult and tragic moments in my entire life. She was ahead of me but for some reason I was determined to catch up with her because we had to take a comprehensive nursing practical exam and I needed a good partner, someone who understood nursing and who studied like I did and we could encourage each other.

I felt blessed because I had passed all my exams, however I worked mostly outpatient and I needed hospital experience. I began working through the nursing registry at Parkview Community Hospital in Pediatrics, the manager approached me and offered me a position. I didn't even think twice I knew it was time for me to leave Loma Linda and not look back.

I continued with my studies and working more hours and less days gave me more time spend with my family and continue my nursing career. My husband totally supported me emotionally and financially. My two children Mark and Lorraine were in high school and it was really nice I worked nights and I slept while they were at school. They hated it because I am an audio learner and my husband helped me make CD's. I recorded myself reading my books. They wanted rides to their activities and friends houses so I popped in my CD's and listened to my lessons. My friend and I took what Excelsior College calls the CPNE. We gave ourselves a good six months of studying and practicing the labs, we made a mock lab in her garage and observed each other. We both passed. I had to still finish one more class until I graduated but the hardest part was finished.

I was working through my last class during August of 2005 all was well at home. My daughter was a freshman at Redlands High and my son had just started his first job at Forrest Home Conference Center working in the kitchen. My husband was working for Regency Homes as a structural designer. On August 18th 2005 I received from my son's friend who lived in Forrest Falls that their had been a terrible accident, he didn't have any details but I knew my husband Mark had gone to pick up my son and they should have been home by now and they weren't. I was filled with overwhelming anxiety and I called my daughter to come home that there was an accident and I was sure if Dad and Mark were involved.

I called my sister Lydia and my coworker Jocelyn, My sister jumped in her car right away and Jocelyn stayed on the phone with me. I called my best friend Donna Dunbar she lived in Yucaipa at the time and was close to the entry way to Forrest Falls. I was on the floor praying because nobody had called me, when my daughter came home with her friend I called 911 and they told me that Mark my husband was at Loma Linda University Medical Center. I jumped in my car with my daughter and went to Loma Linda ER.

In transit I finally heard from Donna and she asked where I was. I told her I was on my way to Loma Linda I had the worst feeling but I kept telling myself the Lord would not give me more than I could handle. In the next few minutes I was inquiring about my husband at the triage desk when the Sheriff and Coroner with my friend told me Mark my son passed away I felt like I was going to faint within the next 5 minutes they told me Mark my husband had passed away. My sister and coworker had just arrived and I went into total shock. It felt like a movie like this wasn't happening to me.

My parents arrived and relatives arrived the phone rang constantly. We had support from the church, friends, neighbors and family. On Sunday my Father had a heart attack and died. After the three funerals when I was still in shock mode, I finished my last class and graduated. It took me around a year before I took my boards for my RN but I passed and went back to Parkview for a NICU position.

I am now a single parent with a daughter to raise and send to college. I would like to further my career and get my Bachelor's degree in Nursing. I have been able to still stay on task with overwhelming adversity, online classes are ideal for the single working mom because you can balance your family needs as well as have the time to further your education. I have a new perspective of life and I would like to help others. If I were to further my career and achieve a higher degree of education I may be able to help someone with my personal experience and my nursing skills.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Peggie Reinhardt

Victoria — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:06:00 GMT

Peggie Reinhardt

Master of Science in Nursing
American Sentinel University

Whenever I think back all I can ever remember wanting to be is a nurse, the pictures of nurses in my early years was one of a woman in a white hat carrying a tray into a patient's room. Stories of Florence Nightingale brought wonder to my mind and determination that I too was going to be one to make a difference in the medical field.

The challenge came when I was twelve, and my brother had an accident and got a pocketknife stuck in his arm from carelessness, this had me second-guessing my decision. I panicked. My mother stayed calm, pulled the knife out and cleaned the wound; never once did she loose her cool and methodically did the first aid that was needed. I was impressed and promised that I too would be just like my mother and handle the situations that arise with calm and gentle hands.

Thus my career started at sixteen; I became a candy striper in a local nursing home and fell in love with the residents, often spending entire weekends helping them, feeding them, and talking with them. This love of helping people continued to bloom after high school and when I attended school to become a Licensed Practical Nurse. The hardest day through that year of training was to sit with a dying patient in the hospital and hold their hand, often I cried with the family; but the elderly woman thought I was her daughter that had died years ago and the family understood so I stayed long after my training shift until the patient passed away. While this was very exhausting both mentally and physically I walked away feeling as if I had helped that family in a way no one else could. This experience influenced the direction of my education. I was determined to go further and get my RN degree, but my career would be put on hold for several years due to raising a family.

After graduation as an LPN, I became a nurse in a retirement home, became too attached to my patients raising doubts that maybe nursing wasn't meant for me, for no matter what I did eventually my favorite patients died. Looking around my area I was hired at a local hospital and began the exciting job of working in the emergency room. Most days it is not like the television series, but at times the adrenaline kicks in during a true emergency and it is better than TV. This was my niche, I loved everything about the ER; the slow times to catch your breath to the wild times when you hold your breath, working as hard and as fast as you can to save lives. And those small thank you that you get from the family make all the difference in the world. This is why I became a nurse, to help, to listen, to teach, to just be there; this was what that picture of a nurse represented and became to me.

One of the most important experiences I had was while on shift one night when a small child of four came into the ER with multiple lacerations from an attack by a pit bull. At that point I was calm, collected and very supportive of the patient and family. Through my staying calm and comforting the child we were able to get him transferred quickly to surgery. The nurse practitioner, who was the primary care person, quickly stitched the small lacerations and talked with the family and child in a professional and personable way that impressed me most of all. This episode helped me to make the decision to go back to school.

I planned to get my nurse practitioner degree and began the long road of first getting my RN degree, then my Bachelors of Science in Nursing, and now to finish my life-long goal of Masters of Science in Nursing with a Family Nurse Practitioner degree. It has not been easy and has spanned many years, and I feel has influenced both my children to go into the medical field; with my youngest child now in Pre-med at Shawnee State University. I feel this determination to learn and to help others was passed to them, just as my mother passed this to me.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Genelle Herron

Victoria — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:52:00 GMT

Genelle Herron

RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing
American Sentinel University

My name is Genelle Herron. I am Registered Nurse seeking a scholarship to further my education and obtain my Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. Obtaining this degree is very important to me. Since I am a single mother of two boys, it has always been important to be able to take care of my family. I have always worked a fulltime as well as a part-time position to make ends meet. After I obtain my Bachelor of Science in Nursing, I will be able to secure a Management position in nursing which would secure a better financial position for my family. I plan to work only one position which means I will have more time to spend with my family as well.

I have been a Nurse for 24 years. I became a Licensed Practical Nurse in 1984 and worked for five years before deciding to pursue becoming a Registered Nurse. I worked part-time as a Licensed Practical Nurse while pursing my degree. I obtained my Associates Degree in Nursing in 1991. I have been a Registered Nurse for 17 years.

I have to variety of experience to offer to the nursing profession. My experience includes acute care, public health, long term care, supervisory, home health, ambulatory care as well as managed care. I am presently employed full-time as a Public Health Nurse. I am also employed at an acute care hospital on a medical-surgical unit on a part-time basis.

As stated before, I am a single parent of two teenage boys. I am presently seeking a divorce at this time. The marriage lasted for sixteen years. My soon to be ex husband is a drug addict. I stayed with him for a long time thinking I could help him get himself together because I really did love my husband and I wanted to help him get better. I have always tried to take care of others. I am presently in recovery in a program called Naranon.

The program is designed to help family members and friends of addicts recover from the effects of living with someone else's addiction. This program has really helped me to see I can only change myself. Five years ago, I could not see myself ever disclosing something as personal as my husband's drug addiction. This matter has in the past been such a private issue for me. I'm not ashamed anymore. I can speak about it because this is a part of my recovery. I feel that going back to school to pursue my Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at this time is also a part of my recovery.

Obtaining my Bachelors Degree will enable me to reach a short-term goal for me at this time. My long term goal is to pursue my Masters of Science Degree in Nursing within the next five to seven years. My ultimate career goal is to teach Nursing at the college level. Another important goal for me is to be financially stable enough to support my two boys while they attend in college. It really inspires me to move forward when I look at how far I have come and realize that I am finally ready to pursue my goals at this time.

The online programs offered with Project Working Moms are an ideal way for me to start pursuing my short term of obtaining my Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. Since my schedule is so hectic most of the time with work and after school activities, this program is the best way for me to go back to school. It will be so nice not to have to report to a class room setting. I will be able to work anywhere as long as I have a computer. I look forward to obtaining my degree through one of the online education programs offered through Project Working Moms. I really appreciate this opportunity.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Estelle Thomson Hale

Victoria — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:40:00 GMT

Estelle Thomson Hale

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
American Sentinel University

I have always believed I would be a college graduate. Education is something that is of extremely high importance in my family. As a young child, I saw how hard my mother worked to get her Bachelor's Degree to teach. She was one of the first in her family to get a college degree. She sacrificed a lot and graduated from college when I was four or 5. I totally looked to her and my dad as my heroes. I wanted to be just like them. It was in my plans and in my most fervent hopes and dreams for me to graduate from college and have a great career that I loved when I grew up.

However, for some of us, our plans and dreams are put on hold. It still breaks my heart to NOT have a college degree at my age. You see, my husband and I unexpectedly had our first child when I was twenty.

I was still trying to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up when I found out I was to become a parent. I had stopped taking college classes because I didn't want to waste the hard earned money my parents made on their modest teaching salaries. I saw how much they sacrificed to put money away, felt the pinch when they made investments in our future instead of getting us the trendiest clothes or extras that would have made life a little more fun or easier.

I felt guilty for having them spend money on classes that might or might not help with my professional future. So, I decided to work until I got my goals straight and had a clear path to what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. But, life happens…

After I had my son I went back to school. Our oldest child was two when I went back the first time. I worked two jobs, one full- and one part-time to make ends meet. It was grueling. But I felt the stuff I was going through was well worth the exhaustion and hard work. I drove thirty-five miles to school one way, leaving my town at 10:30 in the morning to go to my classes with study breaks at the library or labs in between my classes.

On my school days I would get home between ten and 11 at night to get up early to bring my son to school and go to one of my jobs the next day. The situation was made more bearable by small victories, good grades and the way my little boy looked at me. He was so proud I was in school and supportive in his way when Mom had to do homework or go to classes. I would find little toy cars or his favorite action figures in my school bag occasionally. He put them there so I could play when I was able to take my breaks between classes. I knew he missed me when I was at school all day-my schedule was so crazy I barely saw him.

I had to stop my classes when I had to get a pre-cancerous growth removed and I had to spend my time taking care of myself so I could get better.

Shortly after my doctor gave me a clean bill of health, my little family and I moved back to Alaska. After the birth of our second child, I went back to school. By that time I knew the degree program I wanted to go into. I was so excited to be working on finishing my college degree. I was ready to become the college graduate I so longed to be.

Again, life happened. It was my young daughter this time whose health determined the course of my life at the time. I had to quit jobs and withdraw from school because of her health. We didn't know what was wrong with her. By the time she was two, we had taken her to specialists to get her tested from everything from allergies to leukemia and cystic fibrosis.

My whole life revolved around her medical appointments. Dealing with her health lasted from the time she was four-months-old till she was about 2½. The emergency room staff at her hospital began to know us by name, and she had been admitted three times in the hospital because she had problems breathing. No conclusive diagnosis was made to give us answers to why she got so sick for so long. We were just shy of undertaking the great expense of making our home a prescription house when she began to get better. She is now on a maintenance plan that comprises of daily medication for her respiratory health and preventative measures at home.

Now I'm thirty-four. My family has grown from two children to three. Our youngest child is almost two. I have been feeling the extraordinarily strong desire and need to fulfill my professional dreams and aspirations and to get my college degree. I don't have the resources to pay for school myself. I can't afford it—not with three kids to support.

I can't do traditional classes with my schedule and a husband who travels for work. I also cannot qualify for much financial aid, as we make too much to receive financial assistance for me to go to school and my withdrawal from classes during my daughter's health crisis compromised my ability to get financial assistance through the channels I was receiving help to pay for school. We are caught in that middle class quandary of making too much but not enough that many people in our situation face.

I desperately want to finish my degree program. My goal is to get my Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science with my ultimate goal of seeking a Master's Degree in Educational Technology.

During the time when life was happening, I've been fortunate enough to work in areas I've been passionate about — Education and Culture. My dream is to become a Software Engineer and work with indigenous cultures and languages that are threatened or near extinction. I have found that as a Yupik Eskimo woman, I am remarkably blessed to have a culture and a language that is still pretty much intact. Others I have worked with are not so fortunate. I have taught other languages and worked with Native children for a great deal of time and it is my belief that it is to be my life's work. I firmly believe any work I and people like me can do in helping to perpetuate Our traditional languages and cultures will help add to the self-esteem, value and richness that Americas First People need to thrive in the 21^st Century.

I love computers, technology and the things people can do to bridge distance and means. Being able to have a degree in Computer Science would open so many doors for me, and allow me to further the work I am doing in developing curriculum for Alaska Native youth to discover new careers in fields dealing with technology; computers, digital media and art. In my current job and as I serve on the Native Advisory Committee for the Anchorage School District, I know that there are incredible needs in this field, and very few Native people that have the desire, training and ability to fill the needs.

I was taught to be a humble person by my parents and grandparents as it is a cultural value to have humility in your nature. But, I cannot be humble in this instance. I am very good at what I do, but I can be better and accomplish a lot more to help my People and other Indigenous people if I have my bachelor's degree. Right now I am faced with limitations to my abilities and the people I can serve.

I know I cannot do this on my own. I am asking, for once, to have someone help me capture my dream of attaining my college degree. I have worked very diligently, sacrificed a great deal in my personal and professional life to meet the needs of others without thinking of myself. Now is the time I feel I must do something for myself. And I need your assistance to do it. Please, give me the chance to fulfill my dreams of being able to help Native people everywhere and help me to take better care of my family. Having this degree would allow me to undertake projects all over the state of Alaska and the United States helping Native people everywhere.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Marcia Webb-Donarumo

Victoria — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:24:00 GMT

Marcia Webb-Donarumo

Bachelor of Science in Information Systems
American Sentinel University

Hello, my name is Marcia Webb-Donarumo. I am 48-years-old. Much to my chagrin, I did not complete my Bachelor Degree program when I was younger. I completed up through my first semester, junior year. Unfortunately, due to a falling out with my parents, I unexpectedly had to move out and start supporting myself. I did not make enough money to continue my education at that time.

I always enjoyed school, the academics, learning new things, being exposed to new ideas. I always imagined that I would go back and complete my education. As time went on though, I never seemed to be in a stable enough financial position to go ahead and do that. Eventually, I married and started a family.

My husband and I work very hard to provide for our family, but always feel we are just one step ahead of financial disaster. As we get older, we feel more and more trapped by our jobs, feeling that we cannot just up and start something new, and fear what would happen should either of us lose our jobs. Nor do we have the financial means to pursue the education that would help either of us advance, or allow us more earning potential.

Over the years, I did manage to work my way up to a job that I very much enjoy, I am a Business Analyst for a software company. I deal with Property and Casualty Insurance products. I have been in my position for over 10 years now. I am very fortunate in that I work from home. This has been ideal circumstances for raising our four children, ages 12, 10 (twins) and 7. However, I know I have paid an economic price for choosing to have a family. That as a result of not having a degree, taking maternity leave for each of my children, and of course because I value family first over career, my income level is not as high as it could have been. Do not think that because my family comes before my career, however, that I have not been an exceptional and valuable asset to the company. I always give 110 percent.

I have been thinking for some time now, that I really do need to finish up my degree. There are many reasons for this. One of the foremost is to be a role model for my children. Another reason is that I am always concerned about my ability to find other employment in this very competitive job market today.

As I get older, I worry that I may end up going backwards should I lose my job, because I have not completed my degree. That in the event of job loss, I would not be able to provide for my family. I also realize, as I get older, it is very easy to become comfortable and not challenge myself. Completing my degree would challenge me, expose me to new things, force me to embark upon a new adventure that would have long term, beneficial results for me and my family.

Online education would very much fit into my current life. With working full-time, and raising my family, taking classes online would be manageable. One of the reasons I have not pursued the completion of my degree is being unable to attend classes on a campus, and of course the cost. When I came across this program, I thought, why not apply? What a wonderful opportunity for me to finally pursue a long, pushed aside dream if I am lucky enough to be awarded a scholarship.

I hope to continue in my career as a Business Analyst, but to expose myself to other technologies. I primarily work with Mainframe processes. Completing my degree would provide that exposure. My goal is to become more marketable as well to continue to be valuable resource now and in the future.

I want to show my children that although the path may be long, and at times seem insurmountable, that to pursue your dreams is the way to live your life.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my application.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Nicole Coffman

Victoria — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:19:00 GMT

Nicole Coffman

Master of Science in Health Care Administration
American Sentinel University

I began college directly out of high school, working towards a bachelor's degree. My oldest daughter was only one year old at the time. It was a long, six-year journey with many obstacles and changes along the way. I got married in May of 2002 and gave birth to my second daughter in June of 2003. Meanwhile, I continued to attend college full-time. Then, in October of 2004, my husband was killed in a car accident which left me as a single mother of two children under the age of six years old. Though our family was devastated, I knew that my daughter's had only me to depend on and that I must complete my degree. Finally, in May of 2006, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree.

During the last two years, I have been working in the heath care industry which is actually where I gained all of my previous work experience. Although I have an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice, I found that the opportunities in the field were not conducive to my changed lifestyle. Realizing that, and with the changes in the economy over the last year, I came to the conclusion that the only way to provide a better quality of life for my daughters and I is to earn a higher degree in my current field.

I have been an active member of the Southern Maryland Community for over four years. I have served as a cheerleading coach for the Waldorf Wildcats Youth Organization for three years coaching young girls ages 5 to 12 years old. In addition to that, I often volunteer at my daughters schools and have assisted in fundraising events for both the schools and the Youth organization. My daughters have both been involved in numerous extra-curricular activities including Waldorf Soccer League, Elite Gymnastics, Flips Gym & Cheer Center, Sharons Studio of Dance, and Julie Rayles dance studio, all of which I have been actively involved. I pride myself on making a contribution to the world in any small way that I can.

By earning an MBA/Masters in Heath Care Administration degree, I will not only have 10 years experience in the field to offer a potential employer, but I will have an advanced degree which will together put me in high demand in this industry. And as we all know, being in high demand means a greater earning potential. The only obstacle in my way at this point is funding my education. Being a single mother in today's world does not leave much opportunity for savings or any other "extras." It is my goal and firm belief that this degree will be the key to becoming financially secure and in turn, will provide a better life for myself and my children.

While working full-time, volunteering in my community, and keeping up with my two daughter's various extra-curricular and school activities, I have very little time to actually attend class on campus. I earned my bachelor's degree almost completely online and therefore, I am confident that I will succeed in the same way with my master's degree.

Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Rita Williams

Victoria — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:09:00 GMT

Rita Williams

RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing
American Sentinel University

My name is Rita Williams. I am married and the mother of three children. Their ages and genders are: 21/F, 15/F & 11/M. I am currently a Registered Nurse working in a small hospital in North Carolina.

I graduated from high school in June of 1986. Wow, that was a big year for me. I also got married at the age of 17 and had a child before November of that year. Needless to say, I made my walk through life a lot harder. I worked for a few years at local sewing factories and even delivering newspapers for a living. In the meantime, I divorced by age 21. I should have listened to my parents!

I had a very serious automobile accident when I was 22. My mother and I were going shopping that morning and a lady pulled out in front of me as I was driving at 55 MPH. I never had a chance to hit the brakes. I was hospitalized with serious internal injuries and required emergency abdominal surgery to repair my ruptured internal organs. My mom had a slight concussion but was otherwise okay.

During my hospitalization, I was very fortunate to witness several kinds of nursing care. I saw nurses that meant well but were very overwhelmed. I saw nurses that you could plainly see were only there to collect a paycheck. These nurses had absolutely no caring or compassion in the carrying out of their duties. I also saw nurses that gave their everything to make me as comfortable and calm as possible. One nurse made time to help me wash the blood and glass out of my hair. This was days after the accident! After helping me shampoo and comb my hair, she helped me to put in my contact lenses and apply a little makeup to cover some of the bruises on my face. She could only do so much due to all the stitches around my mouth and chin. But even that little bit helped my outlook and attitude so much! Before I was discharged from the hospital I had decided that I wanted to go to college to become a Nurse. I wanted to be one of the good nurses and I wanted to make a difference in someone elses life!

I remarried in 1991 and had my second child in October of 1992. I was still working in factories at that time. I was finally able to go to the local community college to get an Associate's Degree in Nursing. I enrolled in August of 1994.

My husband worked seven days a week for nearly the entire time that I was in school. I attended classes Monday through Friday and worked every Friday and Saturday night; twelve hour shifts! My parents had a big hand in helping me to raise my daughters during those two years! I graduated in May of 1996 and passed my state boards 2 months later. I had my last child, (finally a son!) in September of that year. I have been constantly employed in the nursing profession since then.

I have always wanted to continue my education and earn a Bachelors of Science in Nursing but there are so many obstacles! I cannot commute more than an hour each way to take classes at a 4 year university. I have three kids and a husband to care for! I must continue to work full time in order to help support my family. I also cannot afford the tuition. I want to be a great role model for my children but it seems so hard to accomplish the things that I am preaching at them. Stay in school, go to college, get a degree, set goals and reach them.

If I were able to return to school and get my degree, I would be eligible for more types of jobs in the nursing field. There is much more chance for advancement and it would open up quite a few more opportunities. I think that the opportunity to get my degree online would be a wonderful thing. There is no doubt that it would be more family friendly and less time consuming (no travel time).

My husband has encouraged me to go back to school for my bachelor's degree but there is no way that we can fit it into the budget and there are no scholarships out there for people like me! Well, at least not until this one! Thank you so much for this opportunity and for supporting working mothers. I will continue to provide great nursing care to my patients and continue to search for ways to better myself and improve my legacy to my children. After all, I promised myself that I would be One of the good ones!

Project Working Mom on FOX's "The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet"

ProjectWorkingMom — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:00:00 GMT

"For many working moms struggling just to make ends meet, the idea of earning a degree is an impossibility. But what if there was a way to earn that degree for free without having to find the time to sit in a classroom?"

Four amazing Project Working Mom scholarship finalists from sponsoring schools American Sentinel University, Ashford University, Capella University, and Penn Foster College were flown to NYC to discuss with co-hosts Mike Jerrick and Juliet Huddy about how winning this scholarship could change their lives.

Click the links below to watch Project Working Mom on FOX's "The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet!"

Congratulations to you all!