Enthusiastically praising their scholarship director, seniors Ashtyn Mondy, Laura Socha, Dylan Kennedy and Cody Foltz each said she has helped and guided them through the arduous process of applying to school and looking for scholarships.
Both Mondy and Socha played volleyball under Courtney Hurst's coaching. They said they drop in her office often, probably five times a week, and text her "for everything."
"If something bad happens, we text Hurst," Socha said. Socha, who moved to Pea Ridge schools from South Dakota, admits it was a difficult transition to move between her junior and senior year of high school. New to Arkansas, she didn't have any idea about colleges here and didn't have any friends.
"She's been like a mom at school," Socha said. "If I have a problem, she's the one I go to. Right now, I'm thinking about going to Arkansas Tech and major in rehabilitation science to be a social worker or a counselor to help people. Hurst showed me Arkansas Tech and helped me get a scholarship."
Socha's brother has cancer. She and Mondy were teammates on the volleyball and basketball teams. When they met and began sharing their stories, both realized they each had brothers named Ryan who had cancer. Mondy's brother died March 23, 2008, after a year-long battle. He was a first-grade student at Pea Ridge Elementary School.
Mondy also plans to attend Arkansas Tech and wants to major in elementary education.
"Coach Hurst has helped me so much this year with all the scholarships and stuff" Mondy said. "She's gone above and beyond the call of duty to make sure I survived my senior year."
"She was our coach, but she's our go-to for everything," Socha echoed.
Kennedy, a senior in Pea Ridge Manufacturing and Business Academy, earned his CNA (certified nurse assistant) through PRMBA and works full-time at Ashley Health and Rehab while also attending school.
"She's been incredible. My senior year has been very hectic. I've had a lot going on with family and home and working full-time as a CNA. I don't know where I would be on the scholarships if she hadn't helped me," Kennedy said. "She's gotten me quite a few scholarships."
Kennedy said he plans to attend Arkansas Tech and earn his bachelors in nursing and then hopes to work with Mercy and contract and travel.
Foltz, who applied for the Naval Academy but missed admission by just seconds on the physical test, said: "She kept me motivated through the whole rigorous process. She was there for me when I found out I couldn't get in." He said he intends to study engineering at Arkansas Tech and reapply to the Naval Academy.
Community on 03/30/2016