Her Story
In the fall of 2015 I considered returning to college to earn a degree in Social Work. I applied at Casper College and registered for my first semester. At this time my husband was unemployed due to an injury so we were struggling financially. Someone mentioned that the Hawthorn Foundation awarded scholarships to non-traditional students. I applied and was awarded a scholarship. That enabled me to attend college with less financial stress.
While attending Casper College I was invited to join Phi Theta Kappa and the National Society of Leadership and Success. I was also involved in the Psi Beta Club. Eighteen months later I earned my Associates in Social Work.
In the spring of 2017 I applied for the Social Workers bachelor program (BSW) at University of Wyoming at Casper. I was accepted and began my junior year in the fall of 2017. I joined the Association of Student Social Workers (ASSW) and was voted in as Junior Ambassador. I continued my membership in the ASSW and held the office of treasurer my senior year. I joined the National Association of Social Workers in my junior year and was voted in as the BSW Representative in the Wyoming Chapter.
During my junior year I was invited to join Phi Alpha Honor Society and Tau Sigma National Honor Society. I earned my Bachelor degree in Social Work graduating summa cum laude in May 2019. Without the support of the Hawthorn Foundation and being awarded a scholarship for each semester I would have struggled to find the finances to complete my degree.
During the three and half years I was attending Casper College and then the University of Wyoming at Casper I was also working full-time at Seton House. Being able to return to college and earn my BSW has allowed me to advance to the Social Worker position at Seton House. I have always enjoyed working with people and this allows me to work with the single parents in our program to be empowered to make positive choices on the way to becoming more self-sufficient.