Student Stories

Mia always dreamed of graduating from The University of Alabama, but after high school, she chose to stay home and raise her daughter near family. Years later, her daughter's diagnosis led her back to UA for her bachelor's in Nursing.

 

Ann Hagstrom promised her father she'd finish her doctorate even if he wasn't around to see her graduate. After he passed away, she fulfilled that pledge through UA Online. Now her family affectionately calls her "Dr. Mom."

 

Thaddeus Garrett made a promise to himself years ago to graduate from The University of Alabama. When an injury crushed his football dreams, it delayed his plan, but thanks to New College LifeTrack, he is now a proud alumnus of the University!

 

Jonathan Giangrosso has traveled all over in his nursing journey. A primarily online MSN degree from The University of Alabama has helped him reach his goal of becoming a nurse practitioner.

 

Treston Cook-Lincoln was the first member of his family to attend college, but financial struggles made adjusting to campus life at University of North Texas difficult. “I didn’t know anything about college or financial aid at that point, and by the end of my first semester, I was broke,” Treston said. “My mom can only...

 

After earning her bachelor’s in Elementary Education from Winthrop University, Phyllis Anderson began teaching in South Carolina’s Title I schools. She taught second grade for a year. Then, in her second year, she moved to a new school and transitioned to teaching in a third grade classroom – and learning in an online classroom! Through...

 

Angie Smith earned her bachelor’s in Social Work (BSW) from the University of South Alabama in 2016. She began working for the Mobile County Health Department and planned to go back to get her master’s. After she lost her husband Thomas to undetected heart disease in 2018, she began her Master of Social Work through The University...

 

Pat LeDuc of Owings Mills, Maryland, graduated high school and immediately joined the workforce as a computer numerical control (CNC) machinist. After almost ten years in that career, he decided he wanted to make a change. He began taking classes at a local community college toward an associate level certificate and then a two-year engineering...

 

Grina Hwang started her UA Online journey in Fall 2016. After earning her bachelor’s degree in Math from Thomas Edison State University, Grina decided she wanted to pursue a career in engineering. That’s when she found UA Online and enrolled in the primarily online Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree program. Initially, Grina was interested...

 

Stephanie Pitassi served in the United States Air Force from 2003–2007, during which she completed her undergraduate degree online. After that, she worked as a civilian for the Air Force as an instructional designer designing online courseware for technical training from 2010–2016. When her husband’s military career relocated their family to San Antonio, Texas, she...