National Park College student Claire Evans says "it feels very rewarding" to be selected as this year's recipient of the William and Carma Stroupe memorial scholarship.
"It feels like all of my hard work and perseverance throughout high school has finally paid off," Evans said.
The scholarship requires students to have a minimum GPA of 2.75, live in the Garland County area, be a first- or second-year student at NPC, and enroll in at least six credit hours. Preference is given to students who intend to transfer to a four-year university, according to a news release.
"I know that I'm smart and hardworking, but I have had four knee surgeries and 20 knee injections, which forced me to be a virtual student throughout high school, and it really taught me a lot and made me grow up and be a better person for it. So, I'm really thankful in the end," Evans said.
She said she has decided to go into the medical field as a registered nurse. Throughout her past surgeries, she said she has seen both good and bad nurses becoming interested in orthopedics.
"It made me want to be one of those good nurses that helps patients feel really comfortable and safe," Evans said.
"I feel that (Evans) career choice is an excellent fit for both her personality and drive for perfection. She will strive to deliver the best efforts for her patients and employers," Steve Burns, the regional lead physical therapist for Hot Springs Sports Medicine, said in the release.
Evans said her orthopedic surgeon's assistant comforted her in some of her most challenging times and inspired her to want to comfort other people.
She chose NPC because it was the best option for her, she said.
"It's close to home, so I can stay with my family and stay at home. To keep me focused on studying. I'm not sure that I was ready to leave and go off to college, and I really liked the program and what it offers," Evans said.
Evans came from a virtual school to NPC, which she noted was an adjustment for her and hard, but it did get easier over time.
"The same thing is kind of happening right now as we go through a major amount of content, and we're in class every day, but it's just a different kind of adjustment. I like it better, and I'm a little more thankful to be in person. There's advantages and disadvantages," she said.
"Claire is a young woman of strong character who is respected by her teachers and peers. She has an outstanding work ethic and will continue to be successful in any endeavor she pursues," Lori Bush, Lake Hamilton School District Virtual Academy coordinator, said.
Evans said she plans to transfer to another college to obtain a bachelor's degree.
"I'm not sure what college yet. We will see when it gets closer, and then I have put some thought into going to (physician's assistant) school. So, I might be getting my master's," she said. "I've been doing some research on the different roles of each job, and I'm just trying to decide which one will make me the happiest."
Evans' parents have been her biggest support system, she said, noting when she is doing good or bad, they help her look forward and not dwell on any bad experiences, which provides her a lot of motivation to succeed.
Evans said her advice to any student coming in from virtual learning to in-person learning is "don't get discouraged. It may get hard at times, but be open to different types of learning and just really embrace the adjustment."