This semester, April White received the Alpha Lambda Student Scholarship.
Alpha Sigma Lambda National Honor Society is a nonprofit organization devoted to the advancement of scholarship and to the recognition of nontraditional students continuing their higher education.
Support for her passion
The society was established in 1945-46 to honor superior scholarship and leadership in adult students.
“In order to expedite graduation and pursuit of my new career, I chose to take on school full-time and forego our family’s second income,” White said. “With four children, two of which are also in college, it has been a serious financial strain. For this reason, my family and I are so very grateful for the financial assistance that this scholarship brings.
“Additionally, having received this scholarship also fuels my eagerness to continue to strive for academic excellence in attempts to prove worthy of this award. I was honored to be considered and selected to receive this gift as an acknowledgement of my achievements and goals at Missouri State as a non-traditional student.”
“This scholarship is extremely helpful in offsetting the cost of education.”
April is a nontraditional student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, with an emphasis in application development.
She’s interested in information technology because it feeds her expressive analytical brain.
“The analytical side of me is partly genetic, I believe,” she says.
Several of her family members are engineers, including her dad, uncle and grandfather. Among them, she has chemical engineers, a bio marine engineer and a mechanical engineer.
Staying focused on the finish line
April started her college career when she first moved to Springfield. Her college pursuits slowed and halted as she shifted to working and raising her children. While they lived in Missouri, April’s husband earned his degree.
“I started with Missouri State (SMSU) when returning to school after moving to Missouri many years ago and wanted to see it through.”
After her husband’s graduation, the family relocated to Bartlesville, Okla. Despite a new place, far from the Bears, she wanted to finish her education.
“I wasn’t sure if this would be possible since the program was not technically an online degree offering.”
The administration came through for her, modifying the existing program to meet her needs as an online student.
“The administration and the department heads have been amazing in working with me to complete this goal.”
Off to Scotland
The relationship she’s developed with her faculty has contributed to her success as a student, and has led to unique opportunities.
This summer, she’ll head across the pond to study abroad, at the suggestion of Dr. Cathryn Van Landuyt.
“In the (fall) semester, she reached out to invite me to participate in the (spring) semester’s short-term study abroad program in Scotland. This opportunity is not only fulfilling a major bucket list trip for me in the chance to explore part of my personal heritage, but is also providing both scholastic and professional growth opportunities.”
