ASPSF alumna first in family to earn bachelor’s degree, now pursuing her master’s

Charlene Adams has a lot to celebrate.

Not only was the single mom the first in her family to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in May, but she also graduated with honors, a 3.9 GPA, and Summa Cum Laude!

Charlene, who lives in St. Francis County, even made time in her busy schedule to become a member of the Student Social Work Organization at her school, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

With such accolades, it’s no wonder UALR’s School of Social Work accepted Charlene into its advance standing master’s degree program. This one-year, competitive, and accelerated program admitted only 20 students out of 200 applications. 

Recognizing Charlene’s accomplishments, Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund has named her the June 2023 Student of the Month.

“From the very first time I met Charlene, I was impressed with her dedication, passion, and work ethic,” ASPSF Program Manager Marci Langston said. “With Charlene deciding to immediately tackle her master’s degree, it just confirms that she is an exceptional student! I am just so proud of and impressed by her.”

Charlene said her two daughters, Mi’Kenzi (age 11) and Alivia (age 7), motivated her to work hard for her dream job as a social worker.

“Being a mother means so much to me,” she said. “I want my daughters to know and believe that they can achieve anything if they really put their mind, heart, and soul into it. I also want to help pave the way for their success as well. Raising them in a great environment and having educated role models around them is my goal.”

Charlene was raised by her grandmother who wanted the best for her granddaughter, too.

“Being that her highest level of education was 5th grade, she wanted nothing more for my sisters and I to be successful, educated women,” Charlene said. “This will be an achievement that I know she would be proud of if she was still here with us today.”

But earning her bachelor’s degree wasn’t exactly easy.

To be a full-time parent and full-time student, Charlene had to quit her job at Arkansas’ Division of Children and Family Services, a position she had held for six years. This decision was hard on the family’s finances.

“To maintain, I had to make adjustments to my lifestyle,” Charlene said. “There were times when I felt overwhelmed and wanted to give up, but because I have such a strong support system, I was able to surmount this and achieve success.”

Part of that support system was Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund. The flexible scholarship check she received for five semesters lessened the financial burden of school and caring for her daughters. Plus, the workshops ASPSF offered gave her practical and professional tips she could use in her family’s day-to-day life.

“The one that benefited me the most was a workshop that taught us how to perform vehicle maintenance,” Charlene said. “This workshop taught me things I did not know about my car. The information and knowledge from that time period are still very useful today.”

After Charlene completes her master’s degree next May, she will take the licensing examination. She plans to become a medical social worker and eventually establish her own clinical social work practice. 

“To have wonderful donors at ASPSF who believe in someone like me means the world to me,” she said. “With hard work, prayer, and determination, I will be successful in everything that I do. I really look forward to being able to give back to the community once I begin my career as a social worker.”