Story by Lisa Sollie

Aileen Charles has never needed a practical reason to take on a challenge.

That mindset has taken the recent baby直播 finance graduate from kicking footballs at Northridge High School in Tuscaloosa to collegiate soccer and, most recently, preparing to hike the 2,600-mile Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) this summer.

Charles tends to choose the unconventional route. When her high school needed a kicker, she stepped up. When she enrolled at UWA as a soccer recruit, she chose鈥攁t her father鈥檚 advice鈥攖o pursue a rigorous major. She majored in finance not to prepare for a specific career, but to gain knowledge she could carry throughout life.

Her hard work in the classroom paid off when she was presented the Ralph M. Lyon Award, the University鈥檚 top graduating student award during May 8 commencement exercises. The Ralph M. Lyon Award for Academic Excellence is given to the student with the most outstanding scholastic record among all students receiving baccalaureate degrees at UWA since the preceding commencement. Presented by Interim Provost Dr. Amy Jones, the award is named in honor of Dr. Ralph M. Lyon, a longtime professor, and administrator at the University.

Now, her sights are set even higher.

Charles wants to fly.

鈥淚 thought about going into the military or flight school directly from high school,鈥� she said, 鈥渂ut when I was recruited to UWA, I took the opportunity because I realized not everyone has an opportunity to play a sport they love on a collegiate level. I鈥檓 glad I did. It wasn鈥檛 far away and felt like home the first time I came to campus.鈥�

Aviation has interested Charles since childhood. Although she hasn鈥檛 decided whether to enlist or pursue Auburn University鈥檚 aviation program, she said her time hiking the Pacific Crest Trail will give her plenty of time to think about what comes next.

Often considered the West Coast equivalent of the Appalachian Trail, the PCT begins near the Mexican border in Campo, California, stretching through California, Oregon, and Washington before ending at the Canadian border.

Charles said a friend asked her if she wanted to go, and she didn鈥檛 need much convincing to say yes.

Researching the trail for about a year, Charles purchased the gear she would need. One major purchase鈥攁 satellite phone鈥攚as gifted to her by her mother at Christmas.

鈥淲hile my parents are a little nervous about the trip,鈥� she said, 鈥渢hey are also excited because they know I鈥檝e never really had a lot of free time over the summers before, between working, playing soccer and workouts. This is the first time I鈥檝e had time to do something just for me that I wanted to do, so they鈥檝e been very supportive.鈥�

Charles knows her path may not look like anyone else鈥檚, but that has never bothered her. This summer, she鈥檒l head west and start walking, ready to see where the trail leads next.

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Story: Lisa Sollie | Photo: Cody Ingram

For Meridian resident Tanesha Slocum, the belief that “nothing worth having comes easy” is more than a saying鈥攊t鈥檚 a way of life.

Pursuing an associate degree in nursing at the baby直播, Slocum balanced service in the Army Reserve鈥檚 828^th Battalion in Livingston with full-time college鈥攁ll while raising three children, welcoming a new baby and building a new marriage. On May 8, she added another title to her list: college graduate.

鈥淚 had a great experience at UWA, and I really loved my instructors and professors,鈥� Slocum said. 鈥淭hey invest so much time and energy into their students鈥� success. Even after I failed a class and had to sit out a year, they worked with me. They are always open to questions and willing to go over material when you don鈥檛 understand something, and I appreciate that so much.鈥�

That belief鈥攖hat nothing worth having comes easy鈥攈as defined every step of her journey and guided one of her most difficult decisions: choosing not to reenlist at the end of her contract and instead transition to full-time college.

鈥淓ven though I started the nursing program after I got married and welcomed my third child, I believe transitioning from the military was probably my greatest challenge,鈥� she said. 鈥淕oing from the consistency and stability of a steady paycheck to not working at all was difficult. Then we moved off the Naval Air Station in Meridian. It was a lot of change in a short period of time.鈥�

Curiosity about the university near the Reserve Center ultimately led Slocum to UWA. Her interest in nursing began earlier, while working in home health after an initial attempt at college in Florida didn鈥檛 work out.

鈥淟ife got in the way back then, but I had a grandfather who was a nurse, so I decided to apply at UWA and was accepted.鈥�

Slocum says discipline and her faith are what have carried her through鈥攁nd her husband and two older children helped as well.

鈥淚 was pretty young when I had them. My daughter is now 14 and my son is 13,鈥� Slocum said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e come a long way together. Throughout this whole process, they constantly tell me how proud they are of me. They let me know on test days that they鈥檝e prayed for me and that I鈥檓 going to do well. My daughter acts like a little mama, asking me if I studied, and then asking for my notes so she can quiz me.鈥�

Slocum has already completed a few prerequisites for the bachelor of science in nursing program at UWA and hopes to enter the program in October. Now she鈥檚 focusing on preparing for the NCLEX, the national licensure exam for registered nurses, and finding a job closer to home.

鈥淚鈥檝e been commuting for the past several years, first for work, and then for school. I鈥檝e applied to a few places here in town, and I鈥檓 just praying for direction on where to go,鈥� Slocum said. 鈥淚 know things are going to crank up for me now that both my older children will be at Meridian High this fall鈥攎y daughter in color guard and my son playing football. But I鈥檓 not stopping yet鈥擨 still have more to accomplish.鈥�

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Story: Lisa Sollie | Photo: Jordan Reese Lay

While college is often seen as a time for academic growth, Parker Woodham views his four years at the baby直播 a bit differently. Beyond lectures and exams, he describes his time at UWA as a period of personal transformation, one marked by self-discovery and growth that makes him proud.

An exercise science major and former preferred walk-on for the football team, Woodham stepped away from the program after his sophomore year. In doing so, he said his faith was renewed and he began an internship with the strength and conditioning program, where he worked with freshman football players.

Woodham鈥檚 interest in exercise science began in high school, where the all-state football player realized there was a gap between what he knew and how to apply it.

鈥淚 came from a 1A school. We didn鈥檛 have trainers or anyone working with us in the weight room. I understood the value of strength and conditioning鈥攖hat exercise is medicine鈥攂ut I didn鈥檛 have the knowledge or science to back it up. Being able to communicate that to someone effectively is something I gained through my exercise science classes at UWA.鈥�

For Woodham, the field also carries personal significance: his family.

His parents had him as teenagers, continuing a pattern from the previous generation.  That family history, along with concerns with their long-term health, became a driving force behind his passion for exercise science.

鈥淚 could have found this information another way,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ut UWA and this program are the reason I know what I know and why I鈥檓 as confident as I am. Seeing a change in my parents’ health helped me realize I can make an impact on others.鈥�

Woodham is already seeing that impact through his internship.

鈥淭he freshman football players listen to my advice and trust me, and that鈥檚 reassuring,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e built several connections with the students in the program that continue today, even with guys who have transferred.鈥�

A first-generation college student, Woodham said he never fully envisioned what his college journey would look like. But once he arrived on campus and realized earning a degree was within reach, he committed to making it happen.

鈥淚 did really poorly academically my freshman year,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat was a wakeup call. I thought I had it all together, but I was wrong. The freedom and free time did a number on me, and I had to learn how to manage it. It also taught me to appreciate things I didn鈥檛 even realize I had back home. I decided I was going to be successful and be a good role model for my two younger sisters.鈥�

Reflecting on his experience after being awarded his diploma May 8, Woodham said his time at UWA has been defined by growth. Finding his path, building relationships and discovering a career he鈥檚 passionate about have given him a renewed sense of purpose.

Next, Woodham plans to pursue a position as a personal trainer while working toward his Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification. But for him, the goal goes beyond a career.

He wants to keep making an impact at home鈥攈elping ensure his parents and grandparents are there for the milestones ahead, from his future marriage to raising a family of his own.

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