Official Project Working Mom Blog : Project Working Mom 3

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Earla Transue

Victoria — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:06:00 GMT

Earla Transue

Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
Virginia College Online

I have always had a great desire for learning despite growing up in a working class family with parents who had no regard for education. That mindset influenced my thinking also. I was told, however subliminally, that I was not college material—that was for people of a different, better class. And I bought into it.

I dropped out of school in my junior year of high school. My grades were good and I liked school but my mother needed care and I was the chosen one to do the caring. I married young and had three children but my desire to learn never left me. To this day I get excited over new discoveries of knowledge from diverse subjects. That is to say "new" to me, not necessarily the world in general.

By the time I was twenty-eight years old I could no longer ignore my need to improve myself. I got my GED in Joliet, Illinois and, to my amazement, my five scores ranged from the 86th to the 97th percentile rank in the U.S. It was at that moment that I began to realize that I did not have much in common with Dorothy's tin man after all. I continued on to college for about one and a half years with a cumulative 3.72 GPA. I recall plunking away on my old manual typewriter doing a term paper while my little energetic son climbed all over my back. I was in college, learning and doing a great job of it! I loved it! However, once again, a family member needed care and so I was the one to do the caregiving. I dropped out of college thinking I would go back within a short period of time. But that was not to be.

One disaster after another plagued my family. My husband nearly died from a misdiagnosed ruptured appendix. He then had a serious lawn mower accident. My oldest son (as a pedestrian) was hit by a car and seriously injured. Shortly after his long recovery he had an accident while driving his truck. His fifteen-year-old passenger was killed and my son was charged with vehicular homicide. That sad day haunted our family for a very long time. In the interim my daughter's bouts with ill health began to escalate. Many visits through the years to numerous doctors during her childhood yielded minimal results. Also, during that time period, my oldest son was diagnosed with schizophrenia; my other son, who was blessed with a sound mind, graduated from high school; I divorced and remarried several years later and gained not only a new husband but a stepdaughter also.

My daughter increasingly reminded me of my mother. Approximately nine years ago, when she was in her twenties, she was finally properly diagnosed with bipolar disorder. A number of things began to fall into place as to why my mother behaved the way she did. After all, little was known about mental illness back when I was a kid. I so wish I could say my son and daughter took their meds, accepted therapy and we all lived happily ever after but that was not to be—at least not up to the present time. Years of turmoil, on and off estrangement, emotional distress and near financial ruin passed and I finally had a revelation. I can't fix it! Now there was a learning experience of a lifetime!

Once I learned "I-can't-fix-it" I started picking up my personal shards to begin my mending. Years ago I awakened to a small poem I literally dreamed up which ultimately became my small spark of fame. The poem never left my heart. Moreover, it has morphed into a gauge for my progression in my life.

SURVIVAL? They say survival is where it's at
But I suspect that's just the beginning
Since surviving with nothing intact
Is the worst form of extinction.

I shared it with a psychologist I met and subsequently signed a release so he could include it in a book he was writing. I also entered it into a poetry contest and won the privilege of having it published. That, however, came down to a money thing. "Have your poem engraved on this plaque for only…" etc. But I am still mindful that it was indeed published and only about a hundred were selected out of what surely was thousands.

I believe that age is a state of mind rather than body and I am reasonably certain that I am years older than most, if not all, of your applicants for this scholarship. I am most definitely a so-called late bloomer probably because of my life's circumstances. But, regardless, I liken myself to a moonflower. A moonflower remains dormant during the day but opens quickly in the evening for all who so choose to see its glorious, fragrant bloom. It grows tall and would be patient and accepting of its lot in creation if flowers were so inclined.

Throughout the years I always had to work to help with the finances. I say "work" because the only employment that came close to a career with good pay, benefits and satisfaction was my eighteen years with the U.S. Post Office. Before that I drove truck, kept books, waited tables, cooked and basically did what I had to do to juggle my finances and still be there for my family. Presently, my husband, Bob, and I operate two very small businesses to supplement our retirement income. This is absolutely necessary because of the debt I incurred trying to help my daughter and now raising our sixteen-year old grandson, Gabriel. Gabriel is my daughter's child. Gaining custody of him was perhaps the hardest decision I have ever made but I know it was the right thing to do. His progress and happiness is evidence of that.

I would like to continue my education for several reasons:

To be able to have a career that is edifying and pays well.
To finish what I started years ago and
To learn.

An online curriculum is ideal for me because I have discovered that my plans have one common denominator. They are subject to change. I'm okay with that. After all, I have made it this far with all of the life changes I have had to make. I juggle life very well and have self-motivation conjoined with a can-do attitude. I am a night owl in some respects and, just as I am doing writing the original draft of this letter, I do a lot of my work late at night when the house is quiet.

Thank you for this opportunity and the time you have taken to consider me for a scholarship.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Jhonny Serrano

Victoria — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:05:00 GMT

Jhonny Serrano

Bachelor of Science - Management Information Systems
Virginia College Online

Getting a bachelor degree is one of the most wanted goals for everyone but a highly important effort for those who, by being parents, have to deal with their busy schedule to accomplish it. Since I got married, I have to put off my studies in order to work a second job just to be able to make enough money to meet our budget. I may have to say I wasn't financially ready for that big step.

My wife was an International student and for legal reason she had priority to continue in school no matter what. We were so busy with our schedule that we could barely see each other during the week. I was busy working throughout the day and some evenings/weekends; she was also at school during evenings and study over the weekend. It was too hard during that time. Six months later we found out my wife was expecting a baby… Woo! They were amazing news even though we didn't look for one yet. At this point things got harder!

We were lucky that my wife had our baby while she was doing her OPT (Optional Practical Training), so she didn't have to skip classes. I have always wanted to be able to study and continue my careers goals but I at this point, I was the only one working and taking care of our financial responsibilities. I was just sleeping 4 to 5 hours every day and it last for almost 2 years until I was able to get a new job. Now being a Dad of a beautiful daughter made stronger to continue working hard but it also raises another question: How am I going to be able to accomplish our family goals and the need to get back to school…? New family members always come with blessings.

I'm now a Help Desk administrator for a nonprofit organization that helps build democracy in other countries. I have forced myself to self-study through books, finding free online training for subjects related to my career and has helped me a lot. I can spend more time researching on the internet and it has been amazing all the things that I have learned great tools! I have also received training through my job which has been very helpful but no enough as if I could have been accomplished my desired dream of "Being a professional parent" so when my children find out everything we went through and did for ourselves and for them as well, they can follow our model.

Now I'm here writing these words to you, who can possible make parents like me to accomplish what they have always desired: Get their careers completed. I know one day will come and I will be there, lifting my diploma, just as I dreamed. Saying that everything can be possible if, just believe it.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Connie Keeling

Victoria — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:04:00 GMT

Connie Keeling

Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice
Virginia College Online

My name is Connie Keeling, I am 45 years old. I have 9-year-old twin boys and an 18-year-old boy still in high school. I am and have been a single mom for 18 years. It is hard to juggle work, school and motherhood, but it is worth it.

When I was pregnant with the twins I went to a junior college and got my Associate's Degree, I also got $30,000.00 in student loans which I am currently trying to pay back. But I got my Associate's in Criminal Justice and I am now a Deputy Sheriff in Montgomery County, TN. I work third shift in order to take care of my children.

I have been checking into going back to school to get my bachelor's since I am so good with kids and love them so much I want to be a School Resource Officer. I need to have a B.A.S. for that and if I had it I could do a lateral transfer since I am already a commissioned officer for Montgomery Co. Since I have worked for the sheriff department several S.R.O positions have opened. I am very qualified for that position but I don't have enough education to meet the standard.

Since I am already paying student loans and I have three children to take care of, going back to school is not in the budget for us. A scholarship and online classes would be the answer to mine and my children's dreams. And would get me off of third shift witch would create a better quality of life for me and my children.

Thank you for your consideration,

Connie

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Lawanda Watson

Victoria — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:03:00 GMT

Lawanda Watson

Master of Science - Criminal Justice
Virginia College Online

As a single mother with two children, a 14-year-old son and a 5-year-old daughter, I always stress to my children how important getting a good education is. There are many benefits to attaining the highest education possible.

I was pregnant with my son who is now a teenager, when I graduated from college with my Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration/Accounting in May 1994. I had so many obstacles that I had to overcome throughout my life and particularly during my college career that almost kept me from succeeding, but I continued to persevere despite the many setbacks. My junior year I almost lost my life to complications from Sickle Cell Disease which led me to a month long hospital stay, of which 11 days where spent in an intensive care unit on a ventilator; however, by the grace of God I survived that ordeal and soon thereafter became pregnant with my son, who I called my lifesaver.

I returned to school however, against my doctor's strict advisement, I was advised that I could only take no more than 2 classes per semester, which would extend my graduation date out another year. Needless to say, I took that route only to be hit with another obstacle in my last year wher I learned my father, and best friend, was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given 6 months at the most to live. My dad lost the battle to cancer 3 weeks before I graduated from college which devastated me beyond words; however, because I was 5 months pregnant with my son I continued to press my way on and graduated despite the fact that I could barely walk due to what I later found out was another complication from my Sickle Cell Disease, which ended me up having to walk with a 3 prong cane, while 5 months pregnant in the heat of one of the hottest summers ever.

After I gave birth to my son in August of 1994, I was diagnosed with avascular necrosis of my right hip, which was causing the unbearable pain I began to experience in my last trimester of my pregnancy. Needless to say the deterioration of my hip was so severe that the only option I ws given at the time was a total hip replacement of my right hip. At the age of 23 and 3 months after I had given birth to my first child I had to have a surgery that was very rare for someone my age. After the surgery the long recovery period of atleast 12 weeks was an exteremely hard task to handle with a newborn baby to take care as well. I am thankful that I did have the support of my mother and family to lean on doing the process.

These are just a few of the struggles that I have had to endure and overcome in the 14 years of motherhood and 37 years of living. I did not have the help of a partner to assist me in the role of parenthood, because my son's father was incarcerated for the majority of my son's 14 years on this earth and he is till incarcerated to this day which has devastated my son in ways that I never imagined. I don't regret any of the sacrifices that I made for my children and I am grateful for every day that I wake up and want to be able to give someone else hope if I can. The one thing that I always continued to be hopeful about was that one day I would be able to continue to pursue my higher education by attaining my Masters's Degree. Now that I have a 5 year old daughter as well who looks up to me and thinks that I can do anything, the one thing that I want to do for myself is to go back to school to pursue my Master's so that I can show my children that nothing is impossible as long as you continue to persevere.

I am no stranger to adversity and I can't even begin to tell you everything else that I have endured in life because it's just not enough time. The one thing I am thankful for in life is my children and I want to make a better life for them and myself because I want them to know that giving up is not and option. Having a B.S. in Bus Adm/Accounting is a plus and the fact that I have over 12 years of experience in the Acounting field, I still have a desire to go higher. Over the years I have justified many reasons as to why I couldn't go back to school and attaining that goal such as time, money and my daily responsibilities that go along with being a full time mom, while working full time and coping over the years with the medical challenges that I have also had to face. One of my passions in life is to help hurting people to achieve their dreams. I want our youth to know that there are opportunities out there for them that don't include incarceration or death.

I want that single mother out there to know that she can overcome any obstacle despite the challenges that may come . My desire is to help strengthen families and the community particularly those who may have encountered trouble along the way and ended up on the wrong side of the criminal justice system. I want them to know that there is help out there and to make the right choices so that they don't have to end up on the wrong side of the law. However, if they do end up on the wrong path for whatever reason I want them to know there is hope and help out there for a brighter future if they just reach for it. That is why I have chosen to pursue my Master's in Criminal Justice, so that I can hopefully be that beacon of light to a lost and hurting generation.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Rondeanda Williams

Victoria — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:02:00 GMT

Rondeanda Williams

Associate of Science - Healthcare Reimbursement
Virginia College Online

I am a 24-year-old single mom with a 7-year-old daughter. I have been working so hard to provide all that I can for my daughter since I was 16. I had my daughter at the age of 16 in the 11^th grade. I did not let having a baby stop me for getting my education.

I finished high school while working full-time at McDonald's with a GPA of 3.0 with Honors.

I was depending on a scholarship in track to help me pay for college, but my bundle of joy came when I wasn't prepared for the responsibility. Even though I didn't get the scholarship, I still tried to further my education.

I enrolled in a Voc Tech school and received a certificate in Medical Billing and Coding. I attended school in the morning and still worked full-time at McDonald's. I felt once I finish my internship I would be able to start a real career. But, once again something uncontrollable happened. Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Everything I had worked for was destroyed.

I had to pack all that I had left and relocate to Houston. It was hard for me to get on my feet. I was unemployed for about a year and tried to get a job in the field that I went to school for but was turned down because I did not have enough experience. I have to admit that I did get discouraged, but I did not give up. I enrolled into a continuing education program at a local community college and received a certification in Health Information. That was really hard because I really did not have anyone to watch my daughter in Houston. I worked out deals with daycare for my daughter in order to finish the program. Right now I work at a home health agency. I am grateful for my job but I feel like I can do better.

I am still struggling working paycheck to paycheck with no savings. I believe that I am a great candidate for this scholarship because through all my struggles I have not given up. I am determined, focused and dedicated. What I hope that my daughter will see is that I did not let having a child at a early age stop me from following my dreams.

Going back to school is my only option to get where I want to be in life. Going back to school and getting the proper eduction will allow me to save and get a chance to own my first home. This time in school will be different because I will not just have a certification but a degree. And with a degree no one can take that away from me. Kowing what I want out of life and where I want to be in life drives me to keep going. Taking these online class will help me get there the right way.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Shonda Peeples

Victoria — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:01:00 GMT

Shonda Peeples

Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
Virginia College Online

Going to college had always been a dream of mine. I am the youngest of 10 children. Being the baby girl after 9 boys was difficult.

My mother and brothers did not allow me any freedom. So when I graduated from high school and went to college, I became "buck wild." I attended parties instead of studying and then I became more interested in boys. Needless to say, I became pregnant with my oldest daughter and had to drop out of college. I married my daughter's father. We were married for 12 years and we had another daughter together. My husband and I separated when we gained custody of my nephew's daughter after his death.

With 3 young girls to raise,my dream of returning to school was very slim. I work full-time and try to attend the sporting events that they are involved in. This is very hard but I want them to participate in sports because I never had the opportunity when I was their age because my mother had to work 2 and 3 jobs to put food on the table for the 10 children that she raised by herself. I never realized what she meant when she would say "Wait until you have kids. You will see that it is not easy," or "Finish school before you start a family because kids are expensive." Thinking back, I wish I would have listen to her.

I preach everyday to my sixteen-year-old daughter and niece about staying in school and boys. I just hope and pray that they finish high school and college before starting a family. I placed my children and my elderly parents before my education. My father made me promise him before he passed away that I would return to school. I am keeping that promise, I will start this month at Virginia College in Huntsville, AL.

I will have to take out a loan or only take a class here and there because I do not have the money. My daughters have placed themselves on a budget and only ask for money when necessary because they want me to go to school.

I do not know how long it will take me to finish but I WILL finish! This scholarship would help me keep my promise and to achieve my goal.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Karissa Lloyd

Victoria — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:00:00 GMT

Karissa Lloyd

Associate of Science - Human Resource Management
Virginia College Online

My name is Karissa Lloyd, I am a working parent of 4 children. I attended public schools in Richland County and graduated 96^th in my class from Lower Richland High School in 1993 a class of 406. After graduating high school I attended South Carolina State University but only for a short period when I had my children, who arethe joys of my life. I never could follow my dreams of finishing school because I was a single abused parent of 2 children. I hasve lived in a family (SISTERCARE), which changed my life and got me back on track. I finally had a chance to start my life over but only depressed and in a financial rut.

On February 12, 2005, I married my long time friend on my birthday. I was glad to start over with a new husband and new situations ahead of me. I was dealing with a past of domestic violence but needed to continue my goal of going to school. I have attended Baker College On line but was not able to finish because of health issues and needed surgery. At the end of the semester I was bed ridden could not take my exams and lost my financial aid.

My life has been a journey of joy, laughter, disaster and destruction. I believe with hope and opportunity I can accomplish anything. What makes thing so different now is because I finally get a second chance at life.

I love my children and they deserve better from me. I have come so far and my children have been their every step of the way. My career goal is to become a Human Resource Manager because I love to help people experience their goals. I have worked in human resources as a file clerk and a payroll administrator but I could not go any further because I was not qualified educational. I realized my dreams while working in this field.

I have obstacle in my past but not in my way. I will and I can do anything because of my passion and my hope of change. Education will help me go above and beyond what I can ever expect. I have dreamed of finishing school which will help me in my path of success. An online education will allow me to be a full-time parent and a full-time student at the same time. It is right for me because it allows me the benefit of continuing to work and take care of my family.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Heather Herrera

Victoria — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:08:00 GMT

Heather Herrera

Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
Virginia College Online

As a young child, I always knew I wanted to go to college. My parents did not even graduate from high school. My dad was 19 years old and my mom was 16 years old when I was born. Growing up, I saw how hard it was for them to make ends meet. I remember when I first found out what a "bounced check" was and I always thought it was kind of cool when our electricity would go out and we would use candles for light. As a child, I didn't not associate this with my parents' lack of education.

Over the years, I saw my dad go from job to job never being satisfied. Fortunately, my mom got a decent job at a car dealership where she worked for 15 years until she got laid off. Even now, she has trouble getting another job because of her lack in education. Both of my parents will never be able to retire. They have no savings for retirement. Needless to say, they had no savings for my college education when the time was approaching.

My senior year of high school, I started looking into scholarships. I really did not know the process and I didn't have much help. Then in February of my senior year I found out that I was pregnant. To make a long story short, I got married to my high school sweetheart, had a beautiful daughter, and graduated all in the same year (1995). College got put on hold. When my daughter was 1 year old, I enrolled in a local community college and signed up for 2 classes. I figured I would sign up for the classes I had the most trouble in high school, math and history, to get them out of the way. I passed my history class with a B. The math did not go so well. I took a self-paced class thinking it would all come back to me. I did fine until the math started getting in to calculus. I was never even exposed to calculus in high school. I got frustrated and quit college. I wanted to be home with my new husband and my baby.

Fast forward 13 years later. I am still happily married to my high school sweetheart and my daughter is a level-headed 13 year old straight-A student in gifted and talented classes. She already has her sights set on colleges. We now also have another beatiful daughter who just started kindergarten at the top of her class. I am very blessed to have such a wonderful family. I spent 12 years working in chilcare part time so I could be available for my children.

In 2007, an old friend of mine, offered me a job at his telecommunications company. It is a contracting firm that works on contracts from companies like AT&T and T-Mobile. I was hired as a contractor. Every time my contract would end, I would be off work for a couple of months without pay until a new contract would come along. It is hard to pay for daycare and keep things consistant for my children when I have to go a coulple of months without pay. I have searched telecommunications jobs in my area of expertise, and they all require a bachelor degree or at least 5 years of experience.

So now I find myself in the same predicament as my parents. I have been meaning to go back to school all of these years, but I haven't had the money. My husband and I have no savings for retirement or for college for our children. I would like to go back to school to get a business degree. Now that there are so many classes offered online, I have more time to complete classes and spend time with my family. I am so thankful for this opportunity.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Mary Koehn

Victoria — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:07:00 GMT

Mary Koehn

Associate of Science in Accounting
Everest University Online

While I was completing high school, college was an optional life choice. It wasn't necessary to have a college degree in order to have a career—finding a good job where you could receive on-the-job training at and learn your trade was the normal route. College was for people that didn't need to work yet and could take their time in joining the work force. Businesses were looking for someone they could mold to their needs, someone that could accommodate their specific requirements, learning and growing with the company. Loyalty and longevity on the job was rewarded and encouraged. Unfortunately, today's job market is a totally different story with more and more older workers being let go prior to retirement or even having to go back to work due to their retirement fund having shrunk drastically in the current economy. With hundreds of job seekers for each advertised position, an applicant must offer more to the potential employer.

I've worked at one job or another (and occasionally even two at a time) since I was sixteen. The majority of those positions have revolved around accounting, with a wide variety of job industries, ranging from safety equipment suppliers to Internet marketers. My last job succeeded so well that the owner was able to retire at 39!

I've got an excellent work history, having stayed at several jobs for over 5 years at a stretch, ample skill history, working the same basic job throughout my career, am intelligent and independent enough to work out the unknown, obtaining any skills I may be lacking. I've performed accounting procedures manually as well as using modern skill sets on the computer. Yet, what is it that job advertisement after job advertisement wants? A degree. Many of the advertised positions don't even require a degree that is relevant to the job; any degree will do. Why? Does having stayed in school for a minimum of 2-4 years, regardless of your resulting degree, really carry more credence than life experience? Apparently, the answer is a loud and resounding YES with today's employers.

So what's a job seeker to do? Take a position that doesn't pay what is needed to live a fruitful life, let alone cover the basic necessities, but that you are "qualified" for? Bend the truth on your application, committing fraud and denying your own personal values? Or suck it up, conform to what is being required and go back to school to earn a degree?

Personally, the first two ideas are not real options. Which leaves the third option: School. Not a quick or easy solution but, potentially, a permanent one. One that can lead to a better life for my kids and myself. One that can allow my savings to grow rather than be depleted. One that can provide for my children's future, and both directly and indirectly, my own. One that teaches my children an incredibly important life lesson—that you're never too old to learn and grow and achieve your goals and dreams.

To achieve my end result of a college degree I know will be a rather daunting task. After all, I'm currently assisting my oldest child in HER goal to obtain a degree at Southern Oregon University. I've got two younger children to still provide for, a home to manage and am seeking a full time job to take over after my current seasonal job ends April 15th. Am I capable enough to take on even more, loading my schedule with even more activities then I already have? Is a college degree worth the additional work load, stress and sacrifices that would be required to achieve it? I believe so. I've taken online courses in the past and find them to incredibly convenient as I can often partake in them after the children are in bed or at the very least, after a normal work day, proceeding at my pace within the instructor's parameters.

My last position as a manager for an Internet Marketing business that I worked from my home office allowed me the flexibility to manage my household, be available for my children when they needed me, yet I still got the job done and done well. The position allowed me to become very comfortable with the Internet and computer, as well as learn to manage my time efficiently and effectively, juggling the many aspects of my life. Achieving an online degree would fit into the balance of my life easier and without as much inconvenience to my family more than attempting to achieve the degree the traditional route of traveling to a local college. Once my online degree is completed, I will be able to obtain a position with a reputable organization or company that will allow me to provide the life and future I want to my family and to myself.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Frankie Allen

Victoria — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:06:00 GMT

Frankie Allen

Associate of Science in Paralegal
Everest University Online

My name is Frankie Allen and I am a single 41-year-old mother of four wonderful children ranging in age from 12 to 18. I am currently working full-time as a school Secretary for At-Risk Youth in Hanford, California, where I have been for 3 years.

As a high school graduate, I joined the United States Air Force and proudly served our Country for a little over 5 years. During this time of my life, I knew the Air Force was where I was going to spend the rest of my working career and never planned for my future. Now, almost twenty-four years later, I am wishing that I had invested in myself more.

While in the U.S. Air Force, I married and had four wonderful children that I am now raising about seventy-five percent of the time. As life would have it, I divorced in 2005 and now have shared custody of our children who live with me during the school year and go to their father's every other weekend and every other holiday and half the Summer.

I have always been so involved in my children's activities, (i.e. baseball, basketball, volleyball, golf, NJROTC, choir, band, football) that I have forgotten about me and my future once again. My oldest daughter will be graduating from high school this year and is looking forward to going to college to be a Nurse. I have always pushed my children towards college because I never had the opportunity.

Now it's my turn. I know that if I do not go to college to further my education, I will be here in the same place in two years when my oldest son will graduate from high school. I want more for myself and more for children. I can no longer preach what I am not practicing myself.

I am interested in the Paralegal field because there are so many underprivileged families out there that cannot afford to get an attorney for every legal matter they may come across in their lives. As a Paralegal, I can help those in need of assistance. I have always been a helper of sorts. I truly believe that helping other is my life's calling.

I know that with a degree in the legal field, I will be able to look forward to my financial future and that of my children. I am worth it and I want to instill the same beliefs in my children that they too are worth it.

Thank you for your time and may God Bless all those single parents out there trying to make a better life for themselves and their families.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Toussaunt Thomas

Victoria — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:05:00 GMT

Toussaunt Thomas

Associate of Science in Computer Information Science
Everest University Online

Hello, my name is Toussaunt Thomas and I am 37 years old. I have been married now for 10½ years and my wife and I just had a beautiful baby girl on January 28, 2009. I am a veteran of 8 years of service within the active duty Army and I have received an honorable discharge as of March 2004. My mother and father divorced when I was 9 years old leaving my mother to support me, my brother and my sister. As the oldest in the family, I have been working and making sacrifices all my life, at one point I entered into a culinary arts program at Harold Washington College in Chicago, but I stopped attending so that I could get a job and help my mother with the funds for purchasing the CTA bus tokens for my sister to attend college. Not long after that, I joined the active duty army and I enlisted for only 4 years with the full intent of coming right back to Chicago with the award of receiving a 4 year paid tuition at CSU (Chicago State University). At that time, if you entered the Army and your home of residence was Chicago and you received an honorable discharge from the Army, the university would pay for all 4 years of your tuition.

It was because of this that when I enlisted into the Army in January of 1996, I refused the GI Bill because I would save money in my military pay checks and I knew that once I got back home to Chicago, I would have my college paid for by CSU. Well, my time in the Army did not go as planned and I ended up re-enlisting in 1999 and going to Germany and then back to Fort Hood TX. with numerous deployments in between. In 1996 I was deployed to Kuwait, in 1997 I was deployed back to Kuwait, in 1999 I was deployed to Kosovo for a year and in 2003 I was deployed to Iraq for one year, and each deployment was within a Bradley Linebacker Tank Platoon. Also during this time with the Army, in the summer of 1998 after a year and a half engagement, I proposed to my fiancée and we got married on June 5, 1998. When I got out of the Army in 2004, I did receive an Honorable Discharge and my wife and I got our new home built from ground up here in Copperas Cove TX. where we currently live. Since I have been out of the Army, I did attempt to pursue college and I did attend Central Texas College (CTC) in Killeen, TX. for one semester where I took two courses. But I stopped attending so that I could support my wife’s college education and now she has received her BA in Psychology.

With our new addition to the family (a beautiful baby girl born on January 28, 2009 at 1:26am) Lord knows that I need more education which will open up brighter opportunities which will allow me to not just better support my wife but now to better support my FAMILY.

I truly thank you for taking the time to read this shortened version of my life and I pray and ask that you please choose to provide me with this opportunity to receive a full four year paid scholarship which I sincerely believe will create a life changing effect for my family and I.

Very respectfully,

Toussaunt Thomas

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Joshua Swearingen

Victoria — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:04:00 GMT

Joshua Swearingen

Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice
Everest University Online

My name is Joshua Swearingen and I would like to continue my education, but have found myself without the time and means to pursue it. I have some college credit in management and computer technology at a local technical college. I was not able to finish my degree before finicial demands required I enter the work force full-time. I used what education I had and a willingness to learn and apply myself to get to the position I am in today as a quality manager for AQS (Catapillar's contractual quality department), however, my pay still does not comver the monthly expenses enough for a family and school to coexist.

My son was born December 9, 2009. I would like a chance to get an education and start a new career while he is still young so that I will be able to provide him with a better future.

I have chosen criminal justice becuase I was always interested in the field. I also feel as though my management and computer skills that I utilize in my current occupation will be an asset to me in entering this new course of study. Another reason in choosing this course is that I believe it is one that may well be recession proof. There will always be a need for these legal services. For the last 6 months I have regularly received updates as to which of our facilities are experiencing layoffs. I believe it is only a matter of time until I find myself unemployed and without and official education I may find myself working for half as much with twice the responsiblilites. Money is tight as it is. I don't know how we will survive.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Madivelle Carlos

Victoria — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:03:00 GMT

Madivelle Carlos

Associate of Science in Accounting
Everest University Online

While attending high school the only thing my parents ever mentioned to me was "please graduate" and so I did thinking that this would be enough to get me through life. Well, now that I work for a Fortune 500 company I have found this not be the case. I have been with Dell for almost 10 years and in those 10 years I've worked in the Cash Accounting Department where I was working as an accountant. As the company began to reorganize the business they also began looking at education backgrounds. When looking at my background along with other employees they found that some of us did not have a college education. They eventually pushed myself and other coworkers out of our positions and hired 6 people to do the work that 3 people were doing. When I began to analyze this I just thought this to be so unfair. Why should I be penalized because I didn't have a degree. This incident happened about 5 years ago and I am still with the company in a different position. I love the position that I am working in now. In my current position I work with conducting business controls for the company.

When this incident happened to me I was very upset and at the time I just thought that there wasn't much that I could do about it. I picked myself up and dusted myself off and continued on with my career. Now, I've seen the effects of not having a degree. Now I would like to have a degree so that I can feel more confident in my position that I currently hold and it will also help my with my individual development that I seek to improve. I want to return to school no only for myself but for my children. I have two boys who are aged 8 and 3. They are the light of my life and I want to provide better for them.

I look to the future and I want my boys to have the opportunity that I never did. I would like for both of them to attend college. But, with the salalry that I make now there will be no possible way that I can send them to college. I don't want my children to have to struggle with bills. I want them to live comfortably in their adult lives.

I believe that earning a degree will boost my confidence and immensely help my family. The reason that I have chosen to attend college online is because of the flexibility that it offers and it will not take any time away from me and my boys and I can continue to work full-time. The goal that I have set for myself will be hard but when I reach the top of that mountain I will feel as if I've conquered my biggest challenge in life.

I ask for this scholarship not only for myself but for my children. I want to provide for them what my parents never could for me.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Ashley Martinez

Victoria — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:02:00 GMT

Ashley Martinez

Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice
Everest University Online

My name is Ashley Martinez. I am 25 years old, married and mother of a 5-year-old boy. I have struggled for years to attend college. My studies always got pushed to the side to help provide for my family. My husband and I were 20 and 21 when we had our son and we have struggled in life to provide. I have found myself always doing the best I can to be a great wife and mother but money has always been an issue.

My husband and I have always worked full-time and he also works side jobs on weekends just to be sure that we have everything that we need, maybe not everything that we want, but everything we need. With two different incomes coming in to provide for us, still hasnt been enough. So I had to always drop out of my classes or just end up taking a failing grade due to the fact that I was cutting my hours shorter at work to attend college. Shorting my hours brought in less money and put us behind on a lot.

My husband and best friend of 13 years/father of our son passed away in September of this year and so times especially with the economy have us really struggling. I now struggle from check to check each day,leaving many bills always unpaid and had to expose my son to sleeping in one bed at night so we can keep each other warm because we have no money to provide heat in our home. I also miscarried our second child in July so I have had alot to slow me down.

I want to show my son that with hard work and a good education you can succeed in life. But at this point we are struggling so I cant afford college at this time. It would mean the world to me if I could have a scholarship to attend college and be a prime example for my child.

I thank you for your time and consideration.

Project Working Mom Scholarship Winner - Antonio Rios

Victoria — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:01:00 GMT

Antonio Rios

Associate of Science in Accounting
Everest University Online

My name is Antonio E. Rios. I was born on February 26, 1968. I'm currently a father of three children, Joshua A. Vidal (22), Antonio E. Rios III (18), and Jordan Rios (12). I'm currently residing with Antonio E. Rios III, and I'm a single dad. I was born in Puerto Rico and moved to Chicago in August of 1978 with my Mom, sister, and two brothers. As a child, my Mom did everything she could to take care of us and educate us. My father was not a part of my life and I grew up in the streets of Chicago. I attended the Chicago Boys and Girls Club, which acted as a father figure to me. I learned a lot about sports, team work, discipline, and family. My mother sent me to church on Sundays and I got a good base their. I've always been poor and not having anyone to guide me, I've had to figure it out for myself. I attended Darwin Elementary School during my first year in Chicago, which was a bi-lingual Spanish class, and then I was put in a regular English fifth grade. I transfer to Cameron Elementary School and was failed in the 7th grade because of my Iowa Test reading comprehension scores. I was very hurt and even cried. I thought how am I suppose to score at my current grade level when I've only been in Chicago for four years and that's how long I've known English. However, it turned out to be a great motivator and graduated in 1983 and vowed to myself to learn the English language.

I worked as a tutor that summer to afford to buy some clothes for high school and not burdened my Mom. I went on to Carl Schurz High School in 1983 and I ranked number two in a class of 900 plus students for the first two years. My division teacher (home room) referred me for a job for which I was hired because she thought I was really bright and responsible. I took the job because I was always concerned about my mother's finances and didn't want to be a burden to her. I knew she worked hard to try to meet her responsibilities and any help would ease her load. I worked for two and a half years while in high school to be able to buy my own clothes and meet my needs for school in order not to burden my Mom. During my third year of high school, I was started to be influenced by the street and started to slack on my studies.

In 1986, I was 17 years old at the time, I had just got out of work and two 15-year-old friends of mine asked me to give them a ride when I arrived by my neighborhood. I gave them a ride to another neighborhood and they stole two cars. The police saw one of them getting out of the car and stopped him to question one of them. He said I had come to pick him up, which was not true. When the officer saw that the car was stolen and then saw my other friend hiding in another car near by that was also stolen, he asked me to step out of my car and arrested me with them. Since they were minors, the police figured they would make me the ring leader and charged me with two counts of grand theft auto with intent to sell. The judge thought that since one of the kids said I was coming to pick them up that this makes me an accomplice and my attorney asked me to plead guilty in order to get four years probation and $300 restitution, which I did, but to this day I think that was a mistake and my attorney didn't make much of a defense and took the little money my Mom was able to provide for payment. This continues to be a hindrance today in my job hunting. At the beginning of my senior year, I cut the first semester completely. I was hanging out with gangbangers at their house and wasting my time, although I was not drinking of drugging like some of them. I knew I had failed the first semester, but made a smart decision and told the guys that I had come too far to fail now and was going to go back to school and try to at least achieve getting D's for all my classes to get the credit that counted. I advised them to do the same, but they didn't listen to me. I went back and worked very hard. I achieved obtaining D's in all my classes, but my English class. I thought the teacher figured that she was not going to make it easy for me, just because I came back and did all I had to do. So, I gave up my lunch the next semester so that I could take an additional English class to get the credit needed to graduate. I graduated high school, on stage, in 1987 in the top 25% of my class. It was a real proud moment for my Mom. I now realize she was watching her sacrifices pay off. It was also the year my Mom found out I had gotten a young lady pregnant. I was a father at age 19. I didn't have any guidance in continuing on to college although I had good grades in high school and my counselor was no help. He didn't even tell me about going on to college whatsoever and I am really disappointed about that to this day.

Now, out of high school and no job because I had quit my part-time during the summer of 1986, I had begun to hang out with the gang bangers and make some money on the street anyway I could. I drank and drugged for about two years, but I always felt this was temporary and kept looking for an opportunity by looking in the newspaper job ad section every chance I could. I finally saw a free training that was provided and paid by the state if qualified, which I did, and made the call. It was for Administrative Office Skills with emphasis on Accounting. I took a placement test and was accepted to the school for during the summer of 1988, but because my involvement in drugs I failed to report two consecutive days without calling the school and was dropped from the program. I asked the director to give me another chance, but she stated that this was a very strict policy and they had already dropped me. I asked her what else could I do and she stated to me to come back for the program starting in November 1988. I agreed and she said she will put me down for that session. When the time came, I didn't even think about it because I was caught up further in drugging, and making money on the street. I received a phone call at home from someone from the school asking me if I was still interested, which I said yes. They gave me my start date and what time I had to report to the school.

I remember that I made a choice not to drink or drug anymore until I completed the program. I also thought that once I completed the program I was going to celebrate by drinking and drugging again, but something happened. While in the program, I started to feel better about myself. I felt more alive and my education kicked in and I graduated with a 4.0 GPA from the program and was hired by Blue Cross/Blue Shield before I even finished the program in March of 1989. I felt so good that I didn't have a need to go back to that life. I felt that I was saved by that one person who took the time to make that one phone call to see if this kid still had an interest to attend the program he had failed to complete previously. I have thought a lot about where I would be if it wasn't for that person. Sometimes, it takes one human being's decision to change the course of somebody's life and that person changed the course of my life. My mother always thought I had it in me and I didn't want to disappoint her.

Since, I have had two other children and I'm currently separated and my son Antonio who is 18 years old lives with me. Jordan is with his mom in Florida. I've always had a love for learning and just recently tutored a friend in an online Associates of Arts in Business with Olivet Nazarene University. My career goal is to become a certified public accountant. I've been unwilling to incur the expense because I've been giving my kids the time and direction that I was not fortunate to have from my father. So, I vowed to be there as a father even if I'm not in a relationship with their mom, because I see how important it is in a kid's life and the impact it can have. I've put myself second because of these commitments.

The education I obtained will help me provide my kids with a role model, showing them is never to late to achieve their goals and that persistence is important no matter the obstacles. The fact that I'm a self-learner and have worked with an online setting through the tutoring of my friend, gives me a good idea that the online environment is the right choice for me. I'm familiar with it and my thirst for knowledge and being a self-learner makes me an ideal candidate.