A Second Chance to Graduate, Thanks to Donor Support
An early cancer diagnosis was no match for Amanda Rose ’21 and her commitment to achieving a quality life and education.
Rose recently earned a degree in accounting from the John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business and Innovation – graduating summa cum laude, a distinction reserved for students with a graduating GPA of 3.9 and above.
“My original college journey was disrupted when I received a cancer diagnosis at the age of 20,” recalls Rose. “After I went into remission, I enrolled in a local community college, taking courses as I was able.” One of her professors encouraged her to pursue accounting as a career, and despite additional curveballs that affected the path to her degree, that conversation stuck with her.
“It means the world to me that there are people out there who believed that I could do this, and who are willing to support me with a scholarship to help me along.”
When her focus returned to education, UToledo was at the top of her list. “One of the reasons I decided to finish my degree was to make sure that I secured a future for both myself and my son,” says Rose.
“I chose The University of Toledo because it had a fully accredited, highly-regarded accounting program that was available completely online.”
As a 40-year-old undergraduate living in Cleveland with her son, a virtual, remote program was a must. “While my experience at UToledo was different from most other students, I have always felt welcome and included by both my professors, some of whom I am older than, and my fellow students,” she noted.
Despite all her preparation, Rose was forced to adjust to the new realities of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When I first enrolled, I planned to come to campus on a regular basis so that I could take advantage of campus resources and put a face to my name with my professors,” she notes. “Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and due to medical challenges in my family, I self-quarantined for most of my time at UToledo.”
Rose faced financial hardships as she balanced being a student, a mother and an employee at the same time. After applying for several scholarships, she ultimately received the Elliot L. Miller Memorial Accounting Scholarship.
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“This scholarship made it possible for me to restart my life while still being there for my son,” said Rose. “The financial support afforded me the opportunity to take the time with each of my classes to truly learn the material presented and gain a deeper understanding of it. I would not have been able to achieve that otherwise.”
All of her hard work paid off: Rose was a highly sought-after candidate and secured a full-time position with a major accounting firm before graduation.
“It means the world to me that there are people out there who believed that I could do this, and who are willing to support me with a scholarship to help me along,” she notes.
“My sincerest thanks to the donors for this opportunity. I have finally achieved my lifelong dream of having a 4-year degree and am starting a wonderful career and a new path for my life.”