March 2017

Ruth Sharp is a Business Management major from Tooele, Utah and is a single mother of seven children. Because of her circumstances, Ruth wasn’t sure how she would be able to continue to support her family on her own.

Then Ruth was awarded the Single Mother Scholarship to help cover her tuition and fees to further her education.

“I had not been in the workforce for almost 23 years.” Says Ruth. “I wasn’t sure what I was going to do before I was given this opportunity. Because of this, I am looking forward to the day that I will be able to provide for my family.”

Ruth shares that one of the things she’s most excited about in her pursuit of higher education is knowing that she’s setting an example for her children and grandchildren by getting her degree.

“I really appreciate the donors who have provided me with this opportunity.” She says. “I never thought I was smart enough to go to school and I never saw myself going to college. I am doing things I never thought possible.”

Debbie Langley is a single mother studying Information Technology. Debbie has been a recipient of the Single Parent Scholarship for the last two semesters. This has made it possible for her to continue her education and work toward building a career.

Debbie’s main support in her pursuit of higher education is her eight children, who range in age from 17 to 32. All her children have reached incredible academic accomplishments and have supported their mother in doing the same.

“I feel so blessed to have received the scholarship each semester,” says Debbie. “It was really difficult to provide for my family while attending school full-time, working part-time, and being the mom AND dad all the time.” 

As a single mother of eight children and a full-time college student, Debbie struggled to provide financially for her family prior to receiving this scholarship. Because the scholarship took care of Debbie’s tuition and books, she could use the income from her job to provide for her children.

“Coming to school has been a healing and awakening experience. My divorce had changed everything I had known of my life for almost 32 years. I felt very inadequate to face my future. I wasn’t really sure what to do or how I would support myself and my children,” shares Debbie. “The moment I walked into the doors of this college before I was even accepted here, I knew this was the place for me to be.”

Debbie says one of the biggest blessings of coming back to college at her age is the comradery she’s felt from her fellow students. She feels that her instructors truly want her to succeed. Debbie uses that same strength to root for other students in her position as a Peer Mentor Student Leader.

“I have learned I can do hard things, and I have gained a lot of confidence. I have value, and I can contribute. And I want others to feel the way that I feel now.” Says Debbie.

Just like many of us, Stephanie Brown, a Medical Coding Major from West Valley City, was incredibly hesitant to start college.

 “I didn’t do so well in high school.” Stephanie says, “I wasn’t sure if I would be able to handle college. Also, dealing with mental illness, my confidence was very little.”

 After being urged by her children, Stephanie made an appointment with a college counselor to voice her concerns. Next thing she knew, she was signed up for the Winter Semester and getting ready to go back to school!

 Stephanie is a single mother of four children, and upon coming to college she was awarded a scholarship to help her pay for her education. This scholarship helped her to have the security she needed to embark on her journey of pursuing higher education.

 Stephanie says that her hope in returning to school is to show other students that physical and mental insecurities shouldn’t hold you back.

 “My hope was to show my daughters that they could be independent and not rely on someone else.” Stephanie says. “My daughters tell me that they see I am strong. I share my story so I can encourage other women to go for their desires, no matter what life may throw at you.”

Stephanie truly is an inspiration to her children, her fellow classmates, and women all over the world.

Jennifer Call Holbrook, a single mother from Centerville, Utah, originally graduated from college with her Associate’s degree in 2003. However, when she was suddenly and unexpectedly widowed in 2014 with a then 18-month-old son, Jen knew that going back to school would help her to give her son the best possible life.

When Jennifer returned to college, she began to pursue her Certification in Medical Coding and was awarded the Single Mother Scholarship. Returning to college after ten years is no easy task, but Jennifer finds inspiration in her now four-year-old son.

“This [Single Mother Scholarship] has been a huge blessing in being able to get my education without going into debt,” says Jen. “I have been able to get the skills necessary to get a better job to support myself and my son.”

Jennifer is so immensely grateful for all the people she’s met who have supported her in both her educational and personal pursuits.