/news-archive/tag/lashonda-norfolk/ 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Tue, 29 Oct 2019 13:43:35 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 /news-archive/2019/10/29/lackey-big-red-scholarship/ Tue, 29 Oct 2019 13:43:35 +0000 /news/?p=75457 ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock scholarship empowers future counselor Ariel Lackey to pursue dream]]> A University of Arkansas at Little Rock graduate student is one step closer to fulfilling her dream of becoming a mental health counselor thanks to a $2,500 scholarship. Ariel Lackey, a master鈥檚 student in social work, received the Big Red Stores/Family Market scholarship for the 2019-20 year. The scholarship is awarded annually by the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Association to a full-time or part-time entering freshman, transfer, or continuing student who is an employee or immediate family member of an employee at Big Red Stores/Family Market.聽聽 Lackey worked as a cashier at the Big Red Stores/Family Market in Beebe between 2017 and 2019 during her undergraduate coursework. 鈥淲orking at Big Red was an opportunity to enrich my social skills,鈥� Lackey said. 鈥淲e had a lot of regular customers who liked to visit. It was a rewarding experience to really listen to them and create a meaningful connection. Ultimately, it reinforced my desire to be a mental health counselor.鈥� Lackey first learned about the scholarship from a poster at the Big Red store in Beebe. She was encouraged by her former employer to apply.聽 鈥淏ig Red is a family environment. Everyone is close,鈥� Lackey said. 鈥淚 loved working there. My boss, Amber Marshall, was really supportive of my education and made it easy for me to focus on school and work at the same time. Sometimes, between customers, she would even quiz me on study questions I鈥檇 written on flash cards.鈥� Lackey became even more interested in helping people when her son was diagnosed with autism. Her undergraduate courses in psychology grew her enthusiasm for deepening her knowledge.聽 鈥淚 fell in love with psychology and understanding human behavior,鈥� Lackey said. Lackey met with LaShonda Norfolk, education counselor for the College of Education and Health Professions, and explained her future career interests. Norfolk immediately set Lackey on track to pursue a master鈥檚 degree in social work. 鈥淟aShonda was so welcoming,鈥� Lackey said. 鈥淪he listened to my dreams and I remember her saying, 鈥業 will get you there!鈥� I gained so much from her guidance and confidence in me. After that experience, I knew that the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock School of Social Work was where I needed to be.鈥� Lackey participates in the social work program through 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Online. She is on target to graduate in 2022.]]>