June 25, 2018 | UHCL Staff
Rosselle Helms has been pursuing a bachelor of science in marketing at University of Houston-Clear Lake for a long time. Working full time, being a mother, and attending college hasn’t always been easy, so being awarded the 2018 American Association for Women in Community Colleges National Scholarship made it easier for her to take one more step toward her goal of completing her degree by summer 2019.
Helms was selected to win the prestigious scholarship in the amount of $500 on the basis of her noteworthy academic accomplishments as well as her civic engagement and contributions made in support of women’s issues. “I live in Crosby, and I work at San Jacinto College in Pasadena and I transferred into UH-Clear Lake,” Helms said.
“My supervisor, Allatia Harris, is the college’s vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and also the vice president for finance for AAWCC. She and other administrators I work with are associated with AAWCC and they suggested I apply for this scholarship,” she said. “They’re extremely supportive of me, knowing I have two children and a disabled husband. Since I’m in a single-income household, I am always trying to find ways to pay for my education.”
She said she does volunteer work at San Jacinto College, mentoring students and working with first generation students. “I’m a first generation student myself—that’s probably why it’s taking me so long to complete this degree,” said Helms, who enrolled at UHCL in fall 2017. “But when I was considering where to transfer after I finished my associate’s degree at San Jacinto College in 2013, I really just fell in love with UHCL. It’s the halfway mark from Pasadena, and I’ve been very fortunate. My boss allows me flex time so I can go to class, and I have been really happy at UHCL.”
Winning this scholarship, she said, was especially fortunate for her because she wanted to take classes this summer toward her degree. “I had a balance due for my tuition and I was concerned about how I would pay for it but I thought, God’s put me on this course and He’s going to provide a way,” she said. “This scholarship money helped me fund that class so I can keep the momentum going. I’m very grateful.”
