Kellie K.

Kellie's educational journey has taken her down many roads in her 32 years on earth. She “did okay” in high school, but lacked the support and information to attend college. Until she was 22, Kellie worked as a Certified Nurses Assistant (C.N.A.); at that time she had her first child and decided to pursue a more lucrative career. When her son was two, Kellie attended a one-year program for welding and earned an AWS Welding Certification. However, no local welding jobs existed that allowed Kellie to support her son. After working in factories for about a year, Kellie decided once more to return to school, this time for her four year degree.

Kellie found the support she needed to succeed at the Onward Program at the University of Maine. As Kellie says, “After being out of high school for seven years, Onward got me up to speed. I never had Chemistry in high school, and I never would have gotten through college chemistry without having had chemistry in high school.” Kellie is currently on track to earn a BS degree in Construction Management Technology in May 2002. Her list of accolades includes a 3.51 GPA, eight semesters on the Dean’s List, a Presidential Academic Award, the Onward Program Single Mother Scholarship, an All Maine Women Scholarship, and the Donald V. Taverner Non-Traditional Student Scholarship.

Kellie’s future education plans include earning an MBA while working in her field. She feels that one of the biggest benefits of earning a college degree will be the “financial security for my family. I can now be certain that when my children are ready to go to college, I’ll have the financial resources to help them.” In addition, Kellie says that “acquiring an education has made me feel good about myself. I have gained a lot of self-esteem and confidence that I didn’t have before. I like the career I’ve chosen and look forward to moving on and beginning that career, as opposed to just going to work every day for a paycheck.”