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Contact: Melissa Peveto
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466
1/23/98
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES - Patricia McKnight offers the same advice to students she wished she had followed when her mother offered it to her in the early 70's. "She said stay in school and get your college degree. I tell that same thing to the students I am sitting next to in class," said McKnight.
Almost 20 years later and at 44 years of age, McKnight has taken that advice and is just nine hours away from obtaining a two-year business adminstration degree from Northwestern State University.
"I did this all backwards, but I am glad I finally listened to my mother and came back to school to get my degree," said McKnight.
Life for McKnight, the college student, the full-time secretary and the mother of two teenage boys, has not been easy the past few years. "I cried every night when I started back to school. It was very stressful and there were times I thought I should just drop out, but I knew I couldn't."
That determination has set McKnight apart from others in her situation.
"Patricia well represents the role of the non-traditional student in higher education," said Steve Horton, who has served as Patricia's academic advisor.. "Her determination and willingness to try new things makes it a pleasure to work with her. PEO definitely made a prime choice in its recipient."
Her perseverance was recently recognized by the AG Chapter of the Natchitoches PEO Organization. She was selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship. Chapter President Evie Posey said McKnight was an obvious choice based not only on her need and good grade point average but her ambition to succeed.
"When Mrs. Posey called me I sat down and started crying," said McKnight. "I was totally shocked and surprised. I could not even remember enough about our conversation to tell my mom what Evie had said. My boys thought that something was wrong because I was crying on the phone. That news topped my semester."
For McKnight, the scholarship means less squeezing of the pennies although she knows all too well how to do that. She has managed a strict budget for she and her two sons since returning to school mainly because of the lack of income from her second job, something she has always maintained. "I sat the boys down and told them what we would have to live on once I returned to school. I just wanted them to know we would have to make adjustments and have to take shortcuts. You can imagine what a relief this scholarship will be for us. It will cover the spring semester for me."
McKnight says the reason she has come so far is the fact that she has always kept in mind why she returned to school in the first place. "I wanted an education so bad and I knew I would do anything it took to get a degree. Looks like I am going to get it."