Pham Awarded ACCESS Scholarship for Marketing at Ashworth College

We recently had the pleasure of catching up with Diana Pham, a student in the Associate Degree of Marketing program at Ashworth College and recipient of the prestigious Gary Keisling ACCESS Scholarship. The Gary Keisling Ashworth College Continuing Education for Student Success (ACCESS) Scholarship program awards up to $25,000 annually to new and prospective diploma and degree students. Winners are selected based on essay submissions, work/volunteer experience, and grade point average.

Here’s what Diana told us about her journey with Ashworth College.

Q: What drew you to Ashworth College?

A: I knew I didn’t have the time or the resources for a brick and mortar college, so I began researching online. After a year of doing research, I chose Ashworth. It was affordable and convenient.

Q: Did you intend to attend college earlier? What deterred you?

A: I entered the workforce after high school and then became a mom. I waited to pursue my degree until my daughter was old enough to be more self-sufficient. She’s 11 now, and it is definitely the right time.

Q: How do you plan to use your Associate’s Degree in Marketing?

A: My husband and I own a residential real estate and property management company. I think this degree will help us market our business better and ultimately help us grow.

Q: What inspired you to pursue your degree?

A: It always bothered me that I couldn’t check the box with college degree listed as my highest level of education. It seems that a college degree is the minimum requirement today. I’ll be so excited when I can check that box!

“It always bothered me that I couldn’t check the box with college degree listed as my highest level of education. I’ll be so excited when I can check that box!”

Q: What do you like most about learning online?

A: My schedule is full with my business and family. I love that I can complete the lessons on my schedule and at my pace.

Q: What did it mean to you to receive the ACCESS scholarship?

A: I was thrilled! A college degree is a major undertaking. The scholarship has made getting a degree even more feasible.

Q: What advice do you have for others considering a degree?

A: Just do it! Pursuing college online makes a degree attainable for those who either don’t have a lot of time or don’t feel that a traditional college is right for them. Also, I would tell them to take it seriously. Just because you work at your own pace doesn’t mean it’s easy. It’s harder than I thought, and I have had to be dedicated to the process. My professors are demanding, and I feel like I’m getting a quality education. I have been encouraging my nephew to pursue his degree online. You can do it as long as you put in the time and effort!

Congratulations Diana! You and all our students make us proud, each and every day. To learn more about the ACCESS scholarship, go here. Or, feel free to call us with any questions at 1-800-957-5412.