“I chose UALR because of the convenience, and I wanted to go to a real college. I know that there are other higher education facilities in the area, but I wanted to go to a traditional university. This was right for me – one that offered as much as UALR did. This is a community here; there’s so much to do. “

Shelly Washburn, a native of Cabot, attended some classes with her daughter. Having earned her RN, she is now working on a bachelor’s degree in nursing and wants one day to share her childhood experience of being a heart patient with parents and young patients.

“I expected to feel proud, but I didn’t expect to feel like Superwoman at graduation.”

Shelly Washburn, a native of Cabot, attended some classes with her daughter. Having earned her RN, she is now working on a bachelor’s degree in nursing and wants one day to share her childhood experience of being a heart patient with parents and young patients.

“This was something I wanted to do for a really long time. I made the choice to get married and have my family really young and realized quickly that going to school then was going to be a real challenge for me. So when my daughter went to college, I started college.”

Shelly Washburn, a native of Cabot, attended some classes with her daughter. Having earned her RN, she is now working on a bachelor’s degree in nursing and wants one day to share her childhood experience of being a heart patient with parents and young patients.

“Finding time to study was really hard. I worked while I was going to school. Fortunately, where I worked I could study sometimes behind the desk. But there were nights when I got two or three hours of sleep and I was grateful for those nights. It’s a sacrifice, but it’s gonna be worth it to get my degree.”

Shelly Washburn, a native of Cabot, attended some classes with her daughter. Having earned her RN, she is now working on a bachelor’s degree in nursing and wants one day to share her childhood experience of being a heart patient with parents and young patients.

“Balancing everything can be difficult at times. I have a daughter who’s 2, and we are expecting another one. There’s that added pressure. The nice thing is that – with all my classes and work schedule – it’s all spread out evenly. I don’t have this intense 12- or 14-hour day where I’m totally drained by the time I get home. I still have time and energy when I get home to spend with my family.”

Cabot native Wade Mobbs earned a degree in marketing before pursuing a job with a local engineering firm. The father of one (and one on the way) re-entered UALR with the goal of jump-starting his career with a new degree.

“One of the biggest challenges personally has been staying motivated. Since I do have a job, at times I’ll think I can quit school and still make a decent living. But is that really what I want? Is that what I want to do for my family?”

Cabot native Wade Mobbs earned a degree in marketing before pursuing a job with a local engineering firm. The father of one (and one on the way) re-entered UALR with the goal of jump-starting his career with a new degree.

“I came back to school in the summer of 2007. My wife and I made the deal that when she finished school, it was my turn to go back. UALR fit what I needed and wanted from a school. It was my time.”

Cabot native Wade Mobbs earned a degree in marketing before pursuing a job with a local engineering firm. The father of one (and one on the way) re-entered UALR with the goal of jump-starting his career with a new degree.

“The students, even though they are younger, are very supportive of me coming back. When we’re working on projects, we work around everyone’s schedules. I don’t see myself as old, but it is weird being 10 years older than most of the other students in your class. But they’re all cool.”

Cabot native Wade Mobbs earned a degree in marketing before pursuing a job with a local engineering firm. The father of one (and one on the way) re-entered UALR with the goal of jump-starting his career with a new degree.

“Being a student now is going to help me be a better dad to my daughter later on.”

Cabot native Wade Mobbs earned a degree in marketing before pursuing a job with a local engineering firm. The father of one (and one on the way) re-entered UALR with the goal of jump-starting his career with a new degree.

“Living in Little Rock provides me with a network. There are more business opportunities because we’re in the capital city. Being here is a prime opportunity; we’re easily accessed and I think that says a lot for the community as a whole. Businesses can always come to us and pick out prospective employees.”

Colette Young is a native of Little Rock who has two young children. She plans to work with women and children when she graduates in May.