Through the years

 It is such an honor to be a recipient of the Poynter Scholarship for single parents.  My name is Erin and I am a single mom to my 11-year-old son, Paxton.   I am currently working full time as a dental hygienist on Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands.  Paxton is an avid athlete and sports enthusiast.  During the spring we spend most of our weekends on the ferry heading to other islands for baseball or soccer games.   We love exploring and adventure!  This spring I started an online bachelor's degree program in health psychology at Eastern Washington University.  My passion is the art of helping people improve their mental and physical health.  With this degree, I will be able to broaden my reach and help people in a bigger way than my current profession allows.  The support this scholarship offers is more than financial.  Single parenthood can be lonely.  It feels good to be seen, respected and supported. I am so grateful to Ryan, Lauren and all the donors who made this scholarship possible for me.  The financial support helps me take my mind off of the stress of making ends meet so I can focus on my schoolwork and being there to cheer Paxton on at his games.  Thank you so much! 

I am deeply honored and extremely grateful to receive this scholarship, which represents financial

assistance and a validation of my journey and the goals I am striving to achieve. As I work toward my

degree, I often grapple with feelings of imposter syndrome, questioning whether I truly belong in this

academic space, especially as a single parent. My motivation stems from my desire to create a better life

for my children, a life starkly different from the difficult childhood I experienced. My life has been

shaped by a series of challenging yet transformative experiences, from growing up in a tough

environment to recently overcoming a ruptured quadricep muscle that left me needing to relearn how

to walk. This injury has been particularly challenging, as it impeded my ability to interact fully with my

children and required countless visits to LNI doctors and physical therapy sessions. It was hard for me to

accept support after my injury, and I constantly worried about whether my bills would be covered while

I was on LNI. The weight of these concerns has been heavy, but receiving this scholarship lifts a

significant burden from my shoulders.

These experiences, combined with my responsibilities as a single father to two children with autism and

my work with adults who have intellectual disabilities, have given me a clear and personal

understanding of the challenges that people with disabilities encounter every day. I’ve seen how well-

meaning help can sometimes unintentionally hinder the independence and mental well-being of those

with disabilities. This realization has driven my commitment to advocating for change at the legislative,

policy, and societal levels, ensuring that support is both empowering and respectful of individual

autonomy.

This scholarship not only eases the financial strain of my education but also reinforces my determination

to further my studies in Health Psychology. With this support, I am more motivated than ever to

advocate for those with dual diagnoses, helping them achieve the independence and success they

deserve. I am committed to using my education and personal experiences to create lasting change in

how society, institutions, and policies approach disability.

Thank you for believing in my potential and for providing me with the opportunity to continue this

important work. Your support is a crucial step in my journey to make a meaningful difference in the lives

of others, and I am honored to be entrusted with this responsibility. I hope that my story inspires others

to push for meaningful change and to rethink how we approach care and support for those with

disabilities. I also hope it serves as a foundation for a more inclusive and compassionate future.

Thank you for selecting me as a first-year recipient of the Poynter Scholarship.