ANSWER SCHOLARSHIP ALUMNAE

Nokisha Barringer is a native Charlottean who lives in north Charlotte with her two children.  A senior at Queens University studying for a B.S. in Nursing, she plans to graduate in December 2023.

Barringer works full-time at the Department of Veterans Affairs as a surgical specialty nurse. This role has allowed her to give back and be an advocate for soldiers who fought for this country. After graduation, Barringer hopes to work as a recovery room nurse for patients’ post-surgery. She ultimately wants to obtain a doctorate in nursing and become a nurse practitioner.

Her goals are centered around two priorities: to have an impact and promote change to benefit others through advocacy; and to show her children that having a vision attracts purpose, and having a purpose attracts the resources to complete your vision.

July Bastidas is studying medical laboratory technology at CPCC with expected graduation in May 2024. Bastidas is from Colombia, South America and first came to the United States in 2012 as an international student. In 2015 she returned as a resident.

Bastidas believes that as an immigrant, priorities and opportunities occur differently. She has seen other immigrant women change their narrative and it has empowered her to do the same. We tell our children they can be whatever they want, she says, but we don't always create a better narrative for our own life. Bastidas aims to change that. 

Her children are seeing the dedication and effort it takes for her to earn a degree. She wants them to realize that education is a way to achieve their dreams and be better every day. Bastidas is married with two children and lives in north Charlotte.

April Flamer-Harris wants to set an example for her eight children in her blended family. She grew up in a religious order which discouraged higher education. It was believed that a “spiritual education” is more valuable and essential to one’s well-being than a formal education. Now, she believes a college degree will help set up her family for a better economic future. 

Flamer-Harris is a senior at Wingate University studying for dual degrees in business communications and psychology and human services. She expects to graduate in May 2024 and hopes to earn an MBA afterwards. 

Flamer-Harris once faced financial and housing struggles. Today, she works full-time as a regional manager for a healthcare company that oversees and supports chiropractic clinics in the U.S. She wants her children to understand that no matter where life takes them, getting an education is the starting point. It will give them the strongest foundation, no matter what they decide to do.

A mother of two daughters who works part-time for a nonprofit as a resource development strategist, Kim Lewis is studying for her B.A. in Business Management at Johnson C. Smith University.

In her job, Lewis works with people facing mental health and substance abuse challenges. After several years of encouraging others to achieve what they thought impossible, she decided it was her time to follow that guidance and pursue her own dreams.  As Lewis says, "If not now, when?  If not me, then who?" She feels her faith has significantly contributed to helping her through many of life's challenges and brought her and her daughters many triumphs.

Lewis originally went the traditional college route at age 18 but moved back home in her senior year when she became a single mom. She has taught both daughters that education and knowledge are key for success, and wants to be a shining example of what is possible with grit and tenacity.  Lewis hopes to open an actuarial firm with her degree and help her younger daughter grow her bakery business.  The family lives in Dallas.

Stephanie Patterson is a single mother of two teenage children, a 15-year -old daughter and an 18-year-old son who lives with a disability. Patterson is studying for her associate degree in human resource services, focused on developmental disabilities, at CPCC. She is certified as a family partner, helping families access resources and create plans for how to get to where they wish to be in life.

Patterson hopes to launch her own non-profit to help individuals and families cope with disabilities. She wants her children to understand the importance of acquiring an education, no matter what. "Even if it feels like there are stones in front of you,” she says, “use them to build stairs to reach your goal." The family lives in northwest Charlotte.

Kelly Ann Pearson is earning a B.A. in English at UNC Charlotte, with expected graduation in December 2023. She works part-time as a freelance writer and hopes to teach creative writing to high school students after graduation. She is a wife and mother of five, ages 13 to 29. Her husband is a disabled veteran.

A native of Barbados, Pearson is a Caribbean-American cook with a degree in culinary arts from CPCC.  When the pandemic took a toll on the restaurant industry, Pearson decided to follow another one of her passions, writing.

Pearson's husband was injured during a deployment and needs daily help. Pearson has also faced health setbacks; she received corneal transplants to improve her vision. "I show my family that nothing can defeat them," she says. Pearson's daughter gets great joy in telling friends that Mom has a 3.5 GPA and is her inspiration.  Pearson has a grandson that she has nicknamed 'the toddler overlord,' and she wants him to see nothing is impossible.  The family lives in Mint Hill.

Linda Pineda became a mother at the end of her junior year of high school and still graduated the following year with honors. She pursued a career as a certified medical assistant, which gave her a way to follow her interests in medicine while caring for her daughter. But Pineda was also in a toxic relationship.  She eventually made the difficult decision to leave her hometown, moving more than 600 miles to get a fresh start for herself and her daughter.  

Pineda now lives in Ranlo, N.C., with her fiancée and their three children. She is a junior in the biology program at UNC Charlotte and hopes to become a physician assistant.  She wants her children to “understand the importance of a good education, not for the sake of making their parents happy but to make themselves happy.”

Morgan Riddle is attending Carolinas College of Health Sciences as a junior in the Associate Degree Nursing program. Riddle was one of three children and planned to attend college but realized that she nor her parents were prepared for the cost of a college education. She wanted to be a nurse so when the traditional college route did not work, she began a career working with special needs children.

Riddle married but describes the relationship as toxic. After their son was born, Riddle realized that she had to leave this situation, both for her and her son. She decided to return to school as a single mom and become the nurse she always wanted to be. Riddle recently remarried and her son, now 5, watches her closely. He sees the long hours of studying and the hard work that it takes. She wants him to understand that the pursuit of dreams will have obstacles, and to get there you will need education.

Shereka Rowell says that without ANSWER Scholarship, she wouldn’t be in college today, studying for a B.S. in Nursing from Pfeiffer University. While attending college, she will also continue to assist her husband in the daily operations of his trucking business. The mother of two hopes to work in nursing management at a hospital one day.

Though Rowell attempted college at the traditional age, she faced obstacles that made her drop out. “My story is very complex,” she says. “The challenges I’ve faced as a woman, mother, and wife have been significantly difficult, but I'm still here and I'm still standing!”

She hopes that as her children witness their middle-age mom resume her education, they will learn that perseverance is key to achieving your dreams. Rowell lives with her family in Huntersville.

Porsha Sims is a married mother of five children who wants them to know that there is nothing they cannot do and the key to that is education.

Sims is a senior at Johnson C. Smith University studying business administration with a concentration in management. She works full-time with the Cabarrus County Department of Human Services.

Sims says she was not motivated to attend college and at 17 became a single mom. As her son grew older, she knew he deserved more. Sims wanted him to have a mother he could be proud of.  Watching him cheer her on in the crowd when she graduated from high school is one of her happiest memories.

Sims took college courses at CPCC but due to lack of support, she put school on hold.  She later married the love of her life, Michael, and with his support she was finally able to go back to school. In 2020, she graduated with an associate in business administration. She couldn’t walk across the stage due to Covid-19, but this time she had two more sons watching her graduate and cheering her on.

Angela Edwards became a single mom at 17 and did what was needed to financially support herself and her child with support from her parents. Today, she’s married with one child at home and two adult children. Her husband of 16 years is one of her biggest supporters. She is studying for a B.S. in Psychology from Belmont Abbey College while home-schooling their daughter. She hopes to use her degree to help others.

While growing up, Edwards watched her father work hard to provide for the family. Her family moved several times, always bettering their situation. Her father passed away at age 56 after fighting colon cancer for eight years. The doctors had not expected him to make it more than a year. Edwards is strong like her father. She wants her children to know that no matter how hard you fall, you always get back up and keep moving forward. Edwards lives with her husband and children in Mt. Holly.   

At 18, Raegan Ferro was a pre-med student, hoping to become a doctor. But she dropped out after two and a half years to work two jobs and help a loved one financially. She later opened a daycare center, married, and had four children, but her dreams of college kept getting pushed back. Being a college dropout made her feel incomplete.

When she lost father to complications from Covid-19 – and had to watch his funeral over Zoom – she knew she was ready for a transformation. It was time to become the medical professional she always wanted to be. 

Now a single mom, Ferro is earning a B.S. in Nursing from Queens University of Charlotte. Ferro hopes to teach her children that it is never too late to start over, never too late to go back to school. Her family calls southeast Charlotte home.

Kimberly Fowler, a single mother of four, is studying for an Associates degree in Medical Office Administration from Central Piedmont Community College.

Fowler is an advocate on behalf of sickle cell disease (SCD). One of her sons lives with the illness. SCD has affected her family’s life in many ways. At one point, Fowler was unemployed so she could stay home to care for her son. The family was homeless for a time.

“I am stronger than I have ever been and I do believe that my understanding of the lifestyle that comes with SCD needs to be shared,” she says. “I will be that voice, not just for my son, but for the SCD community across the globe.”

A single mom of an 11-year-old daughter, LaToya Hill is a junior at Johnson C. Smith University, seeking a degree in Sports Management.

Hill worked as a paralegal for several years but knew it was not the career for her so she pivoted. She received a diploma and license in massage therapy. Through her massage therapy business, she became aware of the field of sport management. Hill is determined to thrive in a business she has developed a real passion for.  With her background and this degree, she wants to develop her own athletic management business, helping young athletes and their families prepare for the transition into professional sports. 

"Education is the first step to success,” she says. “The rest is all about who you know. You meet some amazing people while you are obtaining your education." Hill has worked hard to create a secure life for her daughter, including purchasing their home in northwest Charlotte.

Erica Lanausse is working toward a B.S. in Nursing from Queens University. She says that after years of leading a "rebellious life," she turned her life around once she became a single mom at age 25. Her daughter gave her hope and inspired her to achieve more in her life. 

Lanausse earned an associate degree from Central Piedmont Community College and works full- time at Atrium Urgent Care. Her goal is to earn a master’s degree and work as a physician assistant.  Her life lessons taught her to be appreciative, caring, goal-oriented and empathetic. 

She wants to leave these footprints in this world so her children can see there is no limit to what can be achieved. Lanausse wants her children to know that she did all she could to become resilient and a force to be reckoned with.  

Erica Lanausse lives in the Northeast Charlotte with her husband Calvin and their four children, Mariyah, Nyemah, Carter and Sebastian.

Karen McGirt worked as a cosmetologist earlier in her life, a career she used to successfully provide for her three children. Today, McGirt is married and shares six children, ages 10 to 27, with her husband, Redell.

McGirt is attending Johnson C. Smith University for a B.A. in Social Work. She recognizes the overwhelming need for social workers and feels called to help others. Along with her studies, she founded a nonprofit, Shifted Atmosphere Ministries, which strives to encourage and inspire adults and teens while providing life skills, coaching and spiritual counseling. 

McGirt says she has experienced many setbacks throughout her life but always got back up, brushed off and kept the faith. Her goal was to do her best for her children and help them be successful. She can now focus on her own success as well and her desire to give back. She and her family live in Mint Hill.

Deborah Olmstead is studying for an Associate Degree in Nursing at Carolinas College of Health Science with expected graduation in 2022.  College was once financially unattainable for Olmstead as a young single mom.  However, ever since her niece was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Olmstead was driven to enter the medical field and help those who need it most.

She hopes to set a good example for her preteen son, “showing him that he too can reach his goals through hard work and determination.”  By returning to school she has been able to bond with her son and help cultivate his love of science.

Hope Smith lives with her 9-year-old daughter in Mooresville. A senior at UNC Charlotte, she plans to graduate in Fall 2023 with a B.S. in Psychology and minor in statistics. She tried to attend college after high school but the traditional route did not work for her.

Smith’s daughter was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at age four and began more than 20 hours a week of therapy. Her daughter was later diagnosed with a mental health disorder.

The experiences have made Smith resolute. She wants to become a clinical evaluator, specializing in autism spectrum disorder and incorporating the seemingly separate worlds of autism and mental health. One of her goals is to open a non-profit autism treatment program for children so that no one must fight or pay for basic inclusivity. Another goal is for her daughter to live to her full potential: “I want her to endlessly search for knowledge, regardless of the methods she chooses.”

A senior at Queens University, Amanda Thompson will graduate in December 2022 with a B.S. in Nursing.  She lives with her husband, Jake, and their three children in Gastonia. Thompson tried the traditional college route, but at 17 was not prepared for the level of work or the cost of college. Instead, she joined the U.S. Marine Corps, which she believes gave her a foundation and better motivation for future careers. 

She was driven to resume her education after she almost died giving birth to her third child.  The experience pushed her to finish the path she started earlier in her college career and study nursing.  Her goal is to become a labor and delivery nurse midwife and a nurse educator.  She wants to be the type of nurse that patients remember as “one of the good ones,” believing all patients deserve compassion and to be treated with respect and dignity.

Raven Barber is working toward her Associate in Nursing from York Technical College, but that’s just the first step in her ambitions. She plans to continue her education with an ultimate goal of completing an advanced practitioner or doctoral program.

The traditional higher learning route did not fit her after high school even though she felt pressured by family and friends to do so. She is now ready for her college journey because her daughter is older.

Barber says that being a single mom has made her strong. She knows that she can and will rise above the statistics; she knows she is capable. With that attitude she hopes to teach her daughter you can achieve on your timeline, be who you are, and set out to live your best life. The family lives in York, South Carolina.

Johanna Enireb is on track to graduate from Winthrop University in December 2021 with a B.S. in Early Childhood Education.  She attended community college for two years in Florida but after getting married, she and her husband relocated to North Carolina.  Her plan was to wait "one year" before going back to school so that she could qualify for in-state tuition. Then life happened – including three children – and school became less of a priority.

While substitute teaching, Enireb found a love and sees teaching as her calling. Now that two of her children are teenagers and one is a pre-teen, it’s easier for Enireb to focus on completing her degree. She wants to show her children that you can achieve your dreams with hard work and dedication.  Enireb and her family live in Indian Land, S.C., and she hopes to teach in a local public school in South Carolina.

Takisha Griffin is her B.S. in Social Work from Johnson C. Smith University while also holding a full-time job. She ultimately wants to counsel teens and teen mothers, so upon graduation she hopes to pursue her master’s degree and become a licensed clinical social worker.  

Griffin started college as a traditional student after high school but as a young mother, she struggled with balancing being a new mom and her studies. She left college to focus on her child and also to help support her grandmother.

Griffin feels she has been blessed with a second chance now to fulfill her life’s purpose.  She is using that chance to show her two children what it means to value education and the impact it can have on their future. Griffin lives in Wingate with her son and daughter.