adult learners

As an adult Vol State student, April Riddle believes in paying it forward, the mission of serving others, and the value of higher education.

Proficient in five languages and a mother of eight, Anamaria Chiscociu is pursuing her dream at Vol State despite her busy life.

“Growing up in Romania, I was very poor. There was not much possibility to chase your dreams,” she said. “When I came here almost eleven years ago to the U.S., I was pregnant with my third kid. Now we have eight children.”

Sonja Burton is an adult student who started school in the fall of 1981 and is finally graduating this semester with a degree in Business Administration. Sonja dropped out of college to pursue other things when she was 18, but now she’s graduating with her degree at age 59.

Kathryn Hoxie, professionally known as Kfhox, found her voice at Vol State. Literally. “From the time I was little, everything was a song or a commercial. Everything was my microphone,” said Kathryn. “And so, from a pretty early age, the woman that helped raise me to put me in voice lessons.”

India Goostree and Karlee Marbry are both students pursuing a degree in the Human Services field here at Vol State, but they have a unique story beyond that, one that goes deeper than students in class together. India is an adult learner who has returned to school to finish her degree in sociology. Karlee is in the middle of her second semester at Vol State hoping to work towards a career in social work.