Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund recognizes and celebrates Alana Sterling as the March 2024 Volunteer of the Month.
Although a volunteer for less than a year, Alana is no stranger to the ASPSF mission.
Ten years ago, she applied for a single parent scholarship starting her journey to become a Registered Nurse. At the time, she was a Certified Nursing Assistant earning $8.50 an hour.
In 2023, Alana reached her goal! She graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a bachelor’s in nursing. Today, she’s earning $30 an hour as a Registered Nurse at a Conway dialysis clinic.
“Her story is the story of resiliency, courage, and success against every odd,” ASPSF Program Manager Daphne Scott said. “Her story is also a story about love. The love she has for her two daughters, her patients, and the love she has that propels her to give back now as a volunteer for Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund.”
During her 10-year journey with ASPSF, Alana worked full-time, studied nursing, and raised her two daughters. She persevered while deciding which household bill to pay that week, that month — when all of them simply could not be paid. Each degree and license she earned put her family on the path to financial stability.
During the pandemic, she was a Licensed Practical Nurse for the Conway Human Development Center. Dressed in full-body protective gear, she helped disabled clients unable to attend to their personal needs. Before she could greet her two daughters when she came home, she had to fully disrobe outside of her home, enter the back door that led directly to the laundry room, immediately launder her clothes, and take a shower.
Now, this incredible single mom has chosen to become an ASPSF volunteer to help more single parents reach their career dreams just like her.
“Thank you from the depths of our hearts for becoming a true leader of our community in Faulkner County and sharing your love and life’s dream and passion with us,” Daphne said. “Thank you for who you are in the world!”