ACHF newest scholarship fund opens doors for local RCC student
For as long as she can remember, Teri Evans had a fear of the dentist. As a child, she did not receive proper dental care and had unpleasant experiences, so Teri stopped visiting the dentist. Instead, she hid her dental pain throughout her life and was ashamed of her smile.
Then, an accident last November necessitated a trip to the dentist. Filled with dread and anxiety, Teri gathered her reserves and made the appointment. As she waited for the dentist, Teri told the dental assistant about her anxieties. “The moment I sat down in the chair, the dental assistant put my fears and shame to rest,” Teri said. They continued their conversation and the dental assistant told Teri how much she enjoyed her job.
Because of that positive experience and wanting to secure a better financial future for her family, Teri enrolled in the Rogue Community College Dental Assistant program at the Table Rock Campus that very week. She knew she would have to work extra hard to maintain her grades while also holding down a full-time job, but she was determined to make it work for her family’s sake.
When Teri learned she could apply for an allied health scholarship, she applied to RCC and was accepted. Receiving the scholarship allowed her to focus on her studies. She has maintained a 4.0 grade point average and is set to graduate in the Spring of 2023 and step into a dental assistant position at a local dentist’s office.
It is heartwarming to learn firsthand how a scholarship can change the course of a person’s—and a family’s—life. “This scholarship was truly the blessing that allowed me to succeed at my highest potential,” said Teri. “Thanks to ACHF, I was able to set a good example for my children and provide them with a brighter future.”
