Meet our incredible 2025-26 Scholarship Recipients!

Nataysha Addison is studying at UNC Charlotte for her B.S. in Nursing. She holds an associate degree in nursing from CPCC and works full-time for Novant Health’s outpatient infusion center in Charlotte.  Addison is the single mother of four children, ranging in age from five to 25. She was a teenager when she first became a mom.

Addison’s parents were also teenagers when she was born. She and her siblings were raised by their grandmother, who was her rock, she says. She wants to be that for her children, and for them to know that the possibilities for their lives are endless.

Rhacinda "Cindy" Barner lives with her two boys in Kings Mountain. She attends Gardner Webb and is working toward her B.S. in Nursing. She hopes to become a nurse anesthetist or a nurse practitioner.

She has always wanted to provide direct patient care and feels that each of her educational experiences has helped prepare her to become a nurse. Barner attended UNC Wilmington after high school but left before completing her degree in psychology. She experienced divorce in 2018 without much warning and it threw her and her family into a situation she did not see coming. Since then, she and her family have rebounded, and she is in a long-term relationship with someone who pushes her to achieve her dreams.

Quanae Bennett lives with her family in east Charlotte.  She is attending UNC Charlotte and will graduate in May 2026 with her B.S. in Nursing . Bennett hopes to build a career in health care to help others live healthy, meaningful lives.

Like many women, Bennett put her educational goals on hold while she prioritized marriage and helping others. She has been a single mom for three years and links her experiences with personal growth and the opportunity to start a new chapter. She strives to be an example for her daughter by working hard, being brave, and living an authentic life.

Bennett believes opportunities to learn surround us each day. She wants to instill in her daughter the power of good judgment in hopes she will gain wisdom and pursue a lifetime of learning.

Julianna Bonjour didn't initially pursue higher education due to financial barriers and limited encouragement. She earned an associate degree in accounting eight years ago but was not passionate about using it. In the last few years, she discovered her true passion  – and now she's pursuing it with determination.

Bonjour is a senior at Winthrop University. She plans to graduate in summer 2026 with a bachelor’s degree in human nutrition. After graduation, she hopes to enroll in Wingate University's physician assistant program for her master’s degree.

Bonjour lives in Rock Hill and works full-time at an assisted living facility in Fort Mill while also working as a nurse when needed at a nursing home in Waxhaw. A devoted single mother to her nine-year-old son, she's driven by the desire to model perseverance and purpose.

Alison Chandler is pursuing her RN to BSN, beginning at Cleveland Community College this fall and continuing at Gardner-Webb University in the spring, with plans to graduate in August 2026. 

Originally from Michigan, Chandler moved to Charlotte in 2018 to be near her retired parents. She lives in the Steele Creek area with her four year old daughter and works full-time at CaroMont Regional Medical Center in Gastonia. 

Chandler says she has always been passionate about nursing and feels that now she is mentally prepared to continue her education. She credits her close-knit family for her strength. She says she will continue stressing the importance of education to her daughter. "I want her to understand that education opens the world to endless opportunities. Anything is possible, but education is the key to unlocking those possibilities."

Candis Choice attends UNC Charlotte and will graduate in May 2026 with a B.S. in Public Health and a minor in religious studies.  She is a single mother of two, ages 13 and 17, and they live in Charlotte.

Choice was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease as a teen and endured hospital stays that delayed her education. Despite working hard and only needing two points in her Home Economics elective, she could not graduate and felt defeated. But that moment became a turning point. With strength passed down from her grandmother, Millie Choice, she completed her high school diploma and Associate in Arts degree with honors in 2019 while raising her children.

She says her faith anchors and motivates her. Her favorite scripture is Jeremiah 29:11. "I strive to instill in my children the profound value of education and the unwavering belief that dreams have no age limit.”

Lindsay Davis lives in Gastonia with her partner and two children. A student at UNC Charlotte, she plans to graduate in May 2026 with a B.S. in Human Resources Management and minor in psychology.

Davis had her first daughter at 17. She worked multiple jobs as a single mom to secure a decent life for her daughter. There were weeks when she had to pick between paying for food or the light bill. Seven years ago, she met her partner and father of her youngest daughter, who also became a father to her older daughter. With the support of her family, Davis knows she is on track. She wants her children to understand that life can be made better with an education and while better late than never, it is easier if you start early.

Taishaun Elliott is pursuing a B.S. in Business Administration at Johnson C. Smith University with a graduation date of December 2026. She lives in the Prosperity area of Charlotte with her husband, Brandon, and works full-time as a senior consultant at SunLife.

Elliott was inspired to return to college after attending her son's freshman orientation. She remembered a dream she put on hold years ago following the loss of her father. Now, with over a decade of experience in benefits consulting, she's passionate about improving systems for others and developing professionals in her field. Completing her degree honors a commitment she made to herself and will show her four children that it's never too late to finish what you start.

Jessica Fernandez hopes to become a pediatric nurse practitioner and provide compassionate care to children and their families. She is studying for a nursing degree at Carolinas College of Health Sciences, with expected graduation in fall 2026. Fernandez has two daughters, ages 7 and 5, and says she draws strength and motivation from their love and curiosity.

 After high school, Fernandez went straight into the workforce but soon realized she wanted more for herself and her girls. Returning to school has been challenging, but it's also been one of her most empowering decisions. Fernandez also works part-time as a certified nursing assistant with Bayada Home Care, balancing parenting, work, and school.

Through her example, she wants to show her daughters that no dream is too big, no obstacle too great.

A mother of three children, Star Fletcher is studying for an associate degree in nursing at Gaston College with expected graduation in May 2026.

She works part-time as a nurse aide on the medical-surgical unit at CaroMont Regional Medical Center and lives in Gastonia with two of her three children. Her journey back to school began during the COVID-19 shutdown, when she remembered that as a child that she wanted to be a nurse, but becoming a mother at 19 shifted her focus. Fletcher felt she could no longer play it safe and decided to chase every dream with no fear because her 6-year-old daughter was watching. 

Fletcher plans to earn a master's degree, ultimately becoming a nurse practitioner in dermatology and opening her own medical spa.

April Fowler knew at a young age that she wanted to work as a nurse and started college right out of high school. But the summer after her freshman year, she got pregnant, had her first son, and did not return to college.  Still desiring a healthcare career, she worked as a certified nursing assistant.

She is now enrolled at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, earning an Associate Degree in Nursing with a graduation date of December 2025.  Today, Fowler is the mother of five, ranging in age from one to 19. “My children and my partner encouraged me to go back to school and finish pursuing my nursing degree,” she says, “because they know how much it means to me.”

Tia Gaston says that after high school, she was not sure what she wanted to do with her life and felt she needed to grow up a bit more and find her purpose.  She now attends Cabarrus College of Health Sciences, earning an associate degree in nursing with expected graduation in December 2025.

A single mom to one son, Gaston says she came from a loving family, but her childhood was difficult.  “I'm here to show others that just because life started out one way, that doesn’t mean you can't change things around and accomplish your goals,” she emphasizes. “There is no right or wrong way to get there, just keep working to get there.”  Following graduation, she hopes to continue her education and become a certified registered nurse anesthetist.

Tywanda Heilig attends Catawba College, targeting December 2025 for her graduation with a B.S. in Business Management and a minor in marketing. She works full-time at Novant Health as a Unit Secretary Specialist.  A single mom of two children, she is pursuing her degree now to make life better and easier for her family.

After high school she attended college on a volleyball scholarship but left school to help her mom. She tried night classes but ultimately left college and obtained her cosmetology license.  Heilig has experienced many hardships, including the murder of her brother. She lost her mother to cancer and her grandmother to COVID.  Heilig’s children support her return to school. They are learning, she says, that “a college education is a must in this house.”

Amber House is working towards her B.S. in Computer Science and Engineering with a minor in Cybersecurity from Johnson C. Smith University, with expected graduation in the fall 2025.

House says her parents never completed college.  The family never owned a home. Her brothers were incarnated while she was in high school.  The visits to court and jail solidified for her that she would do better.

House gave birth to her first child during her freshman year of college. After taking one semester off, she completed an associate degree in business with a minor in entrepreneurship from Goodwin College in Connecticut. Today, House works for TD Bank as a fraud analyst. She wants to stay in the banking industry and use her bachelor’s degree to move into cybersecurity.

Higher education will soon be a family tradition. House’s daughter, Denaijah will graduate from high school in 2026 and hopes to study biochemical engineering in college.

A full-time Care Connections representative with Novant Health and devoted mother of three, Tanika Johnson returned to school during the COVID-19 pandemic, driven by a desire to serve families in need and make a difference in her community. Today, Johnson is a junior at Johnson C. Smith University, earning a B.S. in Social Work.

She didn't attend college after high school as she was navigating young motherhood and uncertain of her path. Through personal loss and leaving unhealthy relationships, she discovered resilience, strength, and purpose. Her late father's words – "Do what you were made to do" – continue to inspire her.

Johnson hopes to work with individuals facing addiction, homelessness, and abuse. Above all, she wants her children to see that education opens doors to possibility, purpose, and joy.

Ulanda Johnson-Bobo is studying for her associate in nursing at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College with expected graduation in December 2025. The mother of four had her first child when she was 17, began working full-time at 18, and married at 21. Six weeks after giving birth to her fourth child, she was seriously injured when her car was hit head on by a sleeping driver. Eight surgeries later, as her baby son learned to walk, Johnson-Bobo learned to walk again.

That experience, combined with seeing the challenges faced by her own mother, who didn't graduate from high school, has motivated Johnson-Bobo to pursue her degree and strive for academic excellence. “I want to show my kids that a college education is possible if you never give up,” she says.  “Life may be difficult at times but it's even more difficult without the proper skills and training that higher education provides.”

Shemeika King grew up in a mill town with little guidance about college. Her early path led to a secure career in cosmetology, but her lifelong dream of working in healthcare remained.

King became a first-generation college student later in life. Today, she's a senior at Winthrop University, pursuing a B.S. in Business Administration with a focus on healthcare management. Upon graduation, she wants to help create more effective patient care and safer, more stable work conditions for healthcare workers.

 King currently works full-time as a cosmetology educator for Lancaster County School District while raising a family with her husband, Nate. She hopes her journey teaches her three children, ages 10 to 19, the power of perseverance, education, and knowing they always belong

Jazmyn Patterson is a senior at UNC Charlotte, on track to graduate in May 2026 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a minor in reading. She is married with two children, ages seven and nine.

Her journey to college was delayed by early discouragement-first from attending an unaccredited college, then from financial hardship and self-doubt. Raised by a single mother in the military who worked hard to protect her, Patterson often struggled to find her own voice.

Motherhood has given her purpose and courage; she realized the power of becoming a role model to her children. Patterson hopes to earn a master's in school administration and show her kids it’s never too late to grow, lead and inspire others. The family lives in Gastonia.

Celeste Paul is studying for a B.S. in Business Management and minor in computer science at Belmont Abbey College. She anticipates graduating in 2027. “I know God is working through ANSWER scholarship to provide me this opportunity to go back to college,” she says, “and I’m so grateful.”  Paul lives with her five-year-old son in Lake Wylie, S.C., and has been a single mom for four years.

Paul is a survivor of both physical and mental abuse. Following graduation, she hopes to work in technology and to open a nonprofit home that provides for, rehabilitates and helps women like her overcome abuse.  She wants to instill in her son the power of determination, leadership, sacrifice, and discernment.

Melissa Poindexter, a married mother of two, has worked for years as a hairstylist. She later provided hairstyling and makeup services for the deceased at a local funeral home. She considered it an honor to provide this service and did so for free. Over time she realized she wanted to help people facing serious illnesses while they were still alive.

As part of Gaston College’s Class of 2026, Poindexter is pursuing an associate degree in nursing and general education. She plans ultimately to earn a B.S. in Nursing and become a hospice nurse. Raised by a teenage mother, Poindexter says in her younger years, survival skills were far more emphasized than personal growth or academic advancement. Despite this attitude she aspired to break the cycle of limited opportunities. She believes that getting her education will set a great example to her children.

Mataya Revels attends UNC Charlotte, double-majoring in political science and sociology. She plans to attend law school and become a family law attorney. She is a single mother of two children, ages 8 and 2. Revels spent six years working full-time as a cosmetologist and running her own studio before returning to school to pursue her dream of earning a degree.

Revel's journey took a powerful turn during a custody battle for her children.  She experienced firsthand the challenges that mothers face in the legal system without adequate support, she says. That experience sparked a purpose: to advocate for women navigating similar hardships. With resilience and determination, she's committed to building a future for her children where they can see that education and hard work truly make a difference.

Zykijah Watson lives with her husband, an army veteran, and their three children in Gastonia. She attends Gaston College and will transfer to UNC Charlotte in May 2026.  Watson is working toward a B.S. in Biology and ultimately hopes to become a neurosurgery physician assistant. 

 When Watson was 14, she witnessed a fatal drive-by shooting that had a profound effect on her life. She was inspired to act and later became a certified nursing assistant. This position exposed her to nurses and physician assistants who supported her and showed her that there were no limits to what she could achieve. The tragic shooting taught her that she wanted to help change lives, and the other nurses taught her that she could do exactly that.

Monkia Wells is a first-generation college student, the first in her immediate family to graduate from high school and attend college. Wells is a senior at Winthrop University working toward her B.A in Business, she is the mother of three children.

Wells grew up the youngest of four and always knew she wanted to make something of herself. She has faced many obstacles that kept her from finishing college but feels now, with her children a bit older, she can continue what she started in her 20s. Her career goals include either owning a business or rising to a high-level position within a company.

Wells wants to show her children that they can be whatever they want if they stay focused, keep their grades up, be respectful and work hard: “They can do it just like Mommy.” Wells lives with her children and partner in Rock Hill.

Roxana Williams became a mother at 16. Education took a backseat to raising her daughter. In 2024, the sudden loss of her father, her last living parent, sparked a turning point. Channeling her grief into purpose, Williams decided to go back to school and build something meaningful for herself and her family,

A married mother of two, Williams is studying for a B.S. in Nursing at Cabarrus College of Health Sciences, with expected graduation in December 2027. Her faith and resilience guide her.  She wants to enter the nursing field to offer compassion and care to others in their most vulnerable moments. Her journey is a reminder for herself and her children that determination and motivation can overcome anything.

Celeste Zamor attends Gaston College and is studying for her associates in nursing.  She is a licensed practical nurse and works part-time at Nurses and More, caring for medically fragile children while they are at school. She says that having a son on the autism spectrum has taught her a lot about resiliency.  Helping him become stable became a priority and her own schooling was put on the back burner.  She is now refocusing on her education.

Zamor has always emphasized to her children the importance of education on any level, whether it’s a trade or a college degree. “Getting an education will push you further in life. Nothing is easy, but you must be consistent and determined.”