ALI MEEKS
Ali Meeks is a repeat scholarship recipient, graduating with an associate degree of science in nursing from NPC in May of 2021. Ali will continue her education at Henderson State in the fall, with the goal of becoming a nurse practitioner.
As a student at National Park College, Ali has been involved in Phi Theta Kappa, serving as vice president, and Alpha Delta Nu, a nursing honors society, serving as president. She also served as secretary of the NPC nursing class of 2021, while achieving a 3.6 overall grade point average. By joining these organizations, Ali feels she has learned the value of hard work and leadership responsibilities. These leadership rolls also demonstrated to her the importance of getting everyone involved and helping others to flourish.
Ali has faced more than her share of family tragedies, with one of her parents facing a cancer diagnosis, and having lost the other. She observed the care her parent was given, and this was a factor in her decision to pursue a nursing degree. These events molded her “can do“ attitude. With all her commitments to various organizations, she has worked as a waitress. Of course, during Covid restrictions her ability to work has been curtailed; therefore, she has dedicated that time to her academic goals.
ASHLI WILLET
Kristin A. Willet, who prefers to be called by her middle name, Ashli, is a well-deserved recipient of an AAUW scholarship. She maintains a 3.92 GPA, made the honor roll during her first year at NPC, the Dean’s List her second, and has been on the President’s List throughout. She is a member of two honor societies, Tri Beta Kappa and Kappa Delta Pi, all while working and raising her daughter, Madi.
Ashli will earn her degree in elementary education in 2022. Teaching has been a life-long dream. As a child, Ashli could visualize herself helping others learn, which made her truly happy. While growing up, Ashli considered becoming a nurse, a social worker, counselor, scientist, a mom, but really always a teacher. She now realizes that becoming a teacher means she will be all of these! Ashli currently teaches children at Pearcy Baptist Church every Wednesday and will do her student teaching in the spring.
During her free time, Ashli likes to read, hike, bike and ride four-wheelers. She lives with her parents while raising her six-year-old daughter, Madi, whom she loves dearly. She is close to her sister Kayla and hopes to attend her brother Joshua’s graduation from the Marines in California. She has traveled to several states and has taken several mission trips to Mexico, San Luis Potosi being her favorite.
Ashli is highly motivated to learn and help others. She has a huge heart for serving and she is grateful for all she has received. Her highest goal in life is to share her gifts with others.
JENNIFER IBARRA-REYES
Jennifer Ibarra-Reyes, recipient of a $1,500 scholarship, is a 39-year-old single mother of six who has faced and overcome physical and situational challenges to get to where she is now. In a few short years, this determined and confident woman has earned a GED, an associate degree in criminal justice (3.6 average) and entrance into the University of Arkansas Fort Smith Criminal Justice Bachelor’s program. Always keeping her eye on the ball, Jennifer hopes to attend law school to become an immigration attorney.
Not only did Jennifer garner high grades while working nearly full-time as a bail bondsman and personal aide, but she also has been acknowledged by her peers as a leader. She was elected vice-president of the LGBTQ National Park Club and the president of the newly-formed AAUW campus program.
Jennifer was selected as the 2020-2021 TRIO Student of the Year, a prestigious award given by National Park College to a first-generation college student who has attained high honors in her field of study. The award highlights her contagious “wit and spirit” and acknowledges that her former situation did not dictate her future success.
As a role model, Jennifer is determined to teach her children good learning habits. Her hard work and academic example have led them to achieve in school and her leadership example inspires them to contribute to society. She is an example of what one can attain when one has the determination and the willpower to reach for a dream.
YOLONZA FORD
Yolonza Ford graduated from Hot Springs World Class High School, concurrently attending National Park College’s Vo Tech Program. During this experience she was awarded the Presidential Scholarship and completed work in criminal justice, earning an award for her work ethic.
At National Park College, Yolonza was a member of TRIO, the Upward Bound program, and served as an NPC student ambassador. She will receive her associate degree in May 2022 and then transfer to the University of Arkansas in Ft. Smith to complete her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
Yolonza’s passion for social justice and advocacy may well be rooted in her relationship with her police officer grandfather, who encouraged her to follow her interest in the justice system. Unanimously, Yolonza’s professors and teachers consider her to be respectful, hard-working, enthusiastic and, importantly, empathetic. She maintains a high B average.
In addition to her academic pursuits, Yolonza works 40+ hours a week at Sonic Restaurant, having just been appointed in May to a manager’s position. If there is any spare time in her week, she and her fiancé enjoy being with friends and doing some local travelling and sightseeing.
Yolonza’s future career plans include being part of the Hot Springs Police Department as a crime scene technician. Her values of integrity, high performance, and justice for all will be well received wherever she places herself. AAUW is pleased to be part of Yolonza’s future!
LAURY RAMOS
Three-time scholarship winner Laury Ramos lives in Glenwood and graduated from Centerpoint High School in Rosbuoro in 2018. She began her pursuit in nursing at National Park Community College and completed her studies there in May of 2021. She is now a transfer student at Henderson State University and plans to complete the work on her four-year degree in the spring of 2022.
Laury is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and the Honors Program. Community service has included volunteering as an assistant at the Adult Education Center at National Park College and helping with Great Arkansas Cleanup Day.
Laury was recently hired by National Park Hospital in their emergency room as a registered nurse. She works about 36 hours a week and continues to take her classes online at Henderson State University.
Her aspirations are to be a “voice for the voiceless.” She describes a struggle for her as a child and as a young adult because of how much her parents depend on her to interpret for them with doctor’s appointments, etc. However, she sees this as being an integral part of her nursing career with potential patients who have language barriers. She hopes this will prepare her to assist non-English speaking clients, in addition to her nursing skills, to be their helper, listener and voice.
Laury wants her nursing career to be concentrated in labor and delivery. Her opportunities to further her education in this field of nursing are somewhat limited at this time, but she plans to keep her eyes open for what will be helpful for her and her pursuits in life.
JESSICA FOX
Jessica Fox is one of ten very deserving women awarded a $1500 scholarship to continue her quest for a degree in respiratory therapy.
Jessica is an Army veteran with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts. However, that degree and her Army background in supply did not help when she found herself divorced and with two children. She returned to National Park College to study for an associate degree in respiratory therapy, which she hopes to earn in May 2022. Her future goals include moving forward to earn advanced degrees in her chosen field. Once licensed, working as a traveling therapist is a possibility for both using her skills and seeing some of the world. Eventually, she hopes to become one of the first respiratory therapists to start an independent practice – a goal the American Association for Respiratory Care is pursuing at this time. This will enable her to ensure her future and satisfy her need to be of service.
Jessica is accomplishing this while working 24-40 plus hours/week while maintaining a good enough GPA to get on the Dean’s list and caring for two children. As if all that were not enough, Jessica just finished battling Covid! Yet she still finds the time to be the vice president of logistics for the Night Hawk Food Pantry. This group serves the needs of the National Park College community. This high achiever is exactly the kind of dedicated woman the Hot Springs/Hot Springs Village branch of AAUW loves to support through our scholarship program.
JINNY WINCHELL
Jinny Winchell is a 43-year-old mom with four kids and a successful hair stylist/salon manager career who is working to achieve what she feels is her true calling of becoming a nurse.
When she graduates from National Park College in May of 2023 with her LPN license, she plans to work at a hospital to help take care of her family and determine which nursing field is exactly right for her to pursue. Then she will be able to finish her schooling in the field of her choice, which right now is either NICU or surgical nursing.
Life has presented Jinny with some obstacles along the way. She has overcome each and every one and moved forward to take care of her loved ones in the best possible way. She has had to be a caregiver of multiple family members over a period of years and is her family’s breadwinner. Her years as a salon manager have developed her critical thinking and decision-making skills, which are so important in the nursing profession.
Her determination and drive to show her daughters that if you work hard enough you can be successful is a strong motivation for her to succeed.
KARIN OWENS
Karin Owens, a future Registered Nurse, is an older, non-traditional student at National Park College. She is a wife of twenty-five years and mother of three children, ages 22, 19, and 15, two of whom are also in college.
Over the years, Karin thought about a career in nursing but shelved that desire for another endeavor, home schooling their children. In 2019, Karin’s mother, who had overcome many health issues in the past, became critically ill. While observing the caring work of her mother’s nurses, Karin solidified her dream for a career in nursing. She took the first steps towards that goal by enrolling at NPC, completing her prerequisites for the RN Program. With a 4.0 GPA, she was accepted into the program. Sadly, Karin’s mother did not live to see these accomplishments, but Karin continued to maintain a 4.0 and was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, a national society.
Karin, through hard work, is enjoying her course work and helping patients during her clinical rotations at two local hospitals. In her “spare” time, she volunteers at flu and Covid vaccination clinics. Miniature golf and hiking with her family are cherished pastimes.
Karin’s ultimate goal is to serve her community as an RN while pursuing a master’s degree, leading to a career as a nurse practitioner or nurse educator.
Karin’s maturity, life experience and motivation, in addition to her helpful, caring family, are assets that will support her career quest. There is no question she will be an asset to the Hot Springs medical community.
SARAH DURAN
Sarah Duran is a delightful, articulate young woman born in Oxnard, California, who moved to Hot Springs 15 years ago. She was valedictorian of her high school graduating class and graduated from National Park College Spring of 2021 in Phi Theta Kappa, a national honors society. She is planning to attend Henderson State University this fall to complete her Bachelor of Science in nursing in 2022.
Sarah is currently working 3-12 hour shifts at National Park Medical Center on the Cardiac-Renal Medical Surgical Floor and volunteers in the labor and delivery unit as a breastfeeding counselor. Her goal is to get her certification as a lactation consultant, as there are no Spanish-speaking lactation consultants in Arkansas.
Her inspiration to become a nurse started when she was in high school and her mom became very ill due to a stroke and a bleed in her brain. Sarah saw the compassion and kindness of the nurses in the hospital and rehab and set her goal.
Sarah is married to her childhood sweetheart, and they have three lovely children. The oldest daughter is 16 and participates in the marching band at school, her 13-year-old daughter is a social butterfly, and her 6-year-old son loves nature and keeps Sarah on her toes. They enjoy taking their children to Gulf Shores for vacations when able. Sarah enjoys doing yoga to relax and watching TV in her spare time.
SARAH RUDDER
Sarah Rudder has completed her sophomore year at National Park College, majoring in graphic design and business leadership. Her long-term professional goal is to be “one of the best graphic designers in the nation”!
This year, Sarah serves as the president of the Student Government Association at NPC, is one of the college’s Ambassadors, as well as being part of the NPC Honors Program.
Sarah, in her artistic endeavors, has a strong interest in ceramics and sees work in this field very much a part of her future. She credits the strong women in her life as influential as to who she is: her grandmother’s artistic talent, her mother’s stability and consistency, and her sister’s patience. Her entire family resides in the Hot Springs area and so continuing to be a productive part of the Hot Springs area community is definitely a goal. Says Sarah, “I do have many dreams, but my ultimate goal is to make a difference in the world through my art.”
This past year Sarah completed an internship at Ouachita Children, Youth and Family Services, working on a webinar that warns children and young adults about the negative aspects of using marijuana. As she has, Sarah wants young people to discover their own individual “best coping skill.”
Sarah meditates on a daily basis and in her scant free time she enjoys investing time in her friends, listening to audio books, and hiking.