Student Profiles

Debora Jones

Hometown: Holland, OH
Program: Professional Medical Billing and Claims

Debora came to Ashworth as a winner in the 2009 "Project Working Mom…and Dads, Too!" scholarship competition. Her essay was one of 20 top essays to impress the Ashworth selection committee.

Ms. Jones, a mother of two boys, indicated that while she was successful in high school (becoming class salutatorian), her parents didn't understand the value of a college education. "The highest level of education completed by either of them was the sixth grade. I wasn't encouraged to pursue a college degree. To parents who only reached sixth grade, earning a high school diploma was the ultimate success. "

Jones often thought about going back to school herself, but never felt the time was right -- that family came first. "My husband and my priority were to raise our sons, instill the importance of higher education, and groom them to become successful adults. Both of our sons excelled in high school, and have since earned undergraduate and graduate college degrees."

"Now its my turn. My goal is to make myself more marketable by obtaining additional education. After funding our two children's education, we are not financially able to fund my education. This scholarship has allowed me to continue a journey that has been delayed in my life for almost three decades."