High above the whir of speeding cars and the rippling of the Arkansas River, Athena crouches on a steel girder while welding atop Little Rock’s I-30 bridge. Stinger in hand, she fuses angle iron to red iron.

“I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to do. It’s crazy!” said the 33-year-old from Van Buren County. “Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund has encouraged me from the get-go and has stood behind me since I started my journey throughout school and into my welding career.”

A little more than a year ago, her life was very different. Athena cleaned homes for a living, and she and her 6-year-old daughter, Gabby, lived with Athena’s mom and stepdad in Fairfield Bay. Then one day, Athena decided she was tired of relying on others. She needed to show her daughter how to be independent.

A two-time ASPSF recipient, Athena (center) now works full-time as a welder. She’s pictured here with her daughter, Gabby, and ASPSF Program Manager Kim Paul-Williams.

Soon after, Athena and Gabby moved into their own place, and Athena enrolled at Arkansas Welding Academy, her dream since taking a shop class in high school. The two lived off Athena’s savings and ASPSF scholarship checks.

During the stressful moments, Athena found solace through the nonprofit. “When I went to the scholarship ceremony, it made me feel not so alone — that there were more people like me,” she said.

Within eight months of starting trade school, Athena was hired at D.T. Read Steel Co. Inc. as the company’s first female welder. Today, Athena is earning $30 an hour and studying to become a certified welding inspector. This will allow her to make more money, travel, and spend more time with Gabby.

“I couldn’t have done it without ASPSF’s donors,” Athena said. “You put food on the table, and you helped me keep a positive outlook and keep going forward.”

Athena’s daughter is her biggest fan, leaving “I love you” notes around their home to practice her letters. “Gabby brags on me and loves to tell everybody, ‘My mom’s a welder on the bridge!’” Athena said.