AW
Ashley Wilson
  • Medical Laboratory Science
  • Class of 2014
  • Jacksboro, TN

Roane State Graduate Ashley Wilson Awarded Lincoln Memorial University Transfer Scholarship

2012 May 14

Roane State Community College graduate Ashley Wilson of Jacksboro has received the Lincoln Memorial University transfer scholarship, which provides full tuition.

Wilson, who graduated in May, plans to pursue a bachelor's degree in medical laboratory science at Lincoln Memorial.

"This scholarship helps me tremendously financially and helps my confidence," Wilson said. "I still don't feel like it's real. Financially, it's just taken a big burden off."

Wilson, 24, is married with two children. She earned her GED at 17 and worked for a few years. When the economy declined in 2008, she lost her sales job. She enrolled at Roane State in the summer of 2009.

Wilson has taken classes at the college's campuses in Campbell County and Oak Ridge. Having a Roane State campus close to her Campbell County home helped her feel comfortable going back to school.

"This campus being here tiptoed me into college," she said.

Wilson also has taken classes through the Regents Online Campus Collaborative (ROCC). ROCC provides comprehensive educational programs and courses through a coordinated network of colleges, universities and technology centers across the state.

"The ROCC classes helped quite a bit," Wilson said. "The semester I had my son, I took one class online so I wouldn't have to leave him. My last semester, I had two classes with labs on campus, and I took one online so I didn't have to leave my kids too much."

Wilson enjoyed chemistry, and when she learned about LMU's medical laboratory science program, she knew that's what she wanted to pursue. She has already started working in the microbiology lab at Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge.

"I stumbled upon the medical laboratory science program, and it was a perfect fit," she said. "It has a 100 percent employment rate. It's a very selective group."

She said Dr. Bill Engle, director of LMU's medical laboratory science program, encouraged her to apply to the program.

"He has changed everything for me," Wilson said. "He's really worked with me."

Roane State is a two-year college providing transfer curricula, career-preparation programs and continuing education. Founded in 1971, the college has campuses in Crossville, Harriman, Huntsville, Jamestown, Knoxville, LaFollette, Lenoir City, Oak Ridge and Wartburg.

For more information, visit www.roanestate.edu or call 1-866-GO2-RSCC (1-866-462-7722).

Lincoln Memorial University is a values-based learning community dedicated to providing educational experiences in the liberal arts and professional studies. The main campus is located in Harrogate, Tenn. For more information about the undergraduate and graduate programs available at LMU, contact the Office of Admissions at (423) 869-6280 or e-mail at admissions@lmunet.edu.