Working as a medical scribe, Lysha wanted to do more in the healthcare field. A single mom, she wanted to show her son how important education is and that it is worth the time and effort you put into it. Lysha graduated from our Medical Assistant Associate Degree program and was promoted to physician's medical assistant and received a raise once she earned her degree. "The things you learn [in the program] are actually things you do in the field," she said. "Everything applies." Lysha became a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant and decided to go further with her education and is now enrolled in practical nursing school. Listen to her story.

Meet Medical Assistant Graduate Lysha Sorensen

Kimmie Joseph first enrolled with Penn Foster in 2009. Since then, she's completed six programs, most recently completing our IT Support Specialist Career Diploma program in 2020. "There are many advantages of studying a program online," she said. "The fact that I can take my time, make my own schedule, and [have] a career is amazing." Kimmie works as an Technical Support Specialist at Apple and applies what she has learned at Penn Foster to her job. "Penn Foster has really helped me in my position. Just the learning tools they have given me and the information that I have learned throughout the years of being with Penn Foster has really prepared me...when it comes to my position," she said. Kimmie is now enrolled in her seventh program with Penn Foster and doesn't plan to stop learning any time soon. Listen to her story.

Meet IT Support Specialist Graduate and Life Long Learner Kimmie Joseph

When the pandemic hit, Lindsay Howard decided to make the most of the circumstances and extra time at home by enrolling in Ashworth College. "I wanted to take my education seriously and make myself more marketable to the job market..." she said. Since then, Lindsay has completed our Computer Information Management Undergraduate Certificate and Computer Information Systems Associate Degree programs. Soon after completing her degree Lindsay was offered a higher paying job and now works as a digital marketing manager. "I'm happy to say that I feel like I definitely got my [return on investment] with Ashworth," she said. Listen to her story.

Meet Computer Information Systems Graduate Lindsay Howard

Deneil Christian was working as a police officer when he decided to enroll in Ashworth College. "I wanted to find a more flexible and less stressful approach to earning my degree while working full time," said Deneil. Since enrolling, Deneil has completed our Forensic Science Career Diploma program, an associate degree program, and lastly, our Criminal Justice Bachelor's Degree program. He also went on to earn master's degrees in business and criminal justice, and will be completing his Ph.D. in criminal justice this month. Deneil credits his Ashworth education with helping him succeed. "Having a solid foundation is key to anything that you're going to build on," he said. "Ashworth did lay that foundation." Currently, Deneil is using what he learned at Ashworth to teach others. He teaches business and criminal justice at Nazareth Academy High School and is an adjunct criminal justice professor at Chestnut Hill College. He also recently accepted a tenure track position as an assistant professor of criminal justice at the University of the Virgin Islands. Listen to his story.

Meet Criminal Justice Graduate Deneil Christian

Yulanda Edgin, a Walmart associate, found Penn Foster's online Optician Career Diploma Program through our partnership with Guild Education. Working as an optician in Walmart's Vision Center, Yulanda's manager encouraged her to enroll. "There are many advantages with studying and completing program online," she said. "[It's self-paced], you can take your laptop and do the program practically anywhere." Yulanda uses what she learned in her program at work. "I have applied majority of the skills I have learned into my job," said "I was doing the job before taking the course but I am more confident and understand a lot more of what I do because of taking the course." Now, Yulanda is studying to become a licensed optician and encourages her coworkers to enroll. "My education with Penn Foster helps me in my career by putting me a step closer to becoming a licensed optician," she said. Listen to her story.

Meet Optician Graduate Yulanda Edgin

Dontay Long has been named one of our Graduate of the Year finalists. After dropping out of high school in eleventh grade, Dontay said he had less opportunities. That's when he decided to enroll in our online High School Diploma Program. "I wanted to move up... I decided not having a high school diploma really sets you back," he said. "Penn Foster offered the best program and I put my time and dedication into getting a high school diploma." Now, Dontay holds a number of certifications and works in the automotive industry as a forklift operator. He plans to own and operate his own carpentry business. Dontay believes Penn Foster helped him succeed and without his high school diploma he'd still be earning minimum wage. "Penn Foster gave me the chance...I'm just honored that I was part of the program." Listen to his story.

Meet High School Graduate Dontay Long

Brianna Jones has been named one of our Graduate of the Year finalists. Brianna was working in the restaurant industry, but once she became pregnant with her son she knew it was time for a change. That's when she enrolled in our online Pharmacy Technician Career Diploma Program. "I don't think I could have done it without Penn Foster in any form or fashion," she said. "I haven't found another school with the flexibility." While working through the program Brianna secured a part time position at CVS and was hired for a full time role once she graduated. "Without Penn Foster I probably wouldn't have been able to get into a pharmacy [job]," she said. Through working with CVS, Brianna obtained the certification needed to give immunizations, is CPR certified, and is working towards becoming certified in compounding. Listen to her story.

Meet Pharmacy Technician Graduate Brianna Jones

After Angelica Mosqueda’s mother passed away, she struggled with traditional high school, finding it difficult to find her focus. Knowing she’d need her diploma to achieve her academic and career goals, she turned to Penn Foster to help her get back on track at her own pace. “I was always advanced when it came to school, so when I was registering with Penn Foster, I figured the High School with Early College Courses would give me an extra challenge.” Listen to her story here.

Meet High School Graduate Angelica Mosqueda

Nicole always had a plan to attend college right after high school, but life took her in a different direction. After four years, she decided to pursue her degree while she was pregnant with her second daughter. Balancing work, being a mom and wife, and then school was challenging, but she was determined to persevere and complete her program as the first person in her family to go to college. “It was always a personal goal of mine to finish, much less to be the first in my family, I can’t really explain how amazing it really is.”  Listen to her story.

Meet Veterinary Technician Associate Degree Graduate Nicole Gonzalez

Meet Penn Foster's Graduate of the Year Finalist, Savannah Reed! When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, Savannah needed to reassess her career goals to determine her future. Encouraged by family and friends, she decided to pursue her dream of working with animals. She was able to find a job working at an animal hospital and, after some time, decided she wanted to learn even more. Knowing she had to find a way to continue on her upward climb to reaching her goals in the vet profession, she enrolled in Penn Foster’s Veterinary Assistant Career Diploma Program to help her gain the skills to move up in her career.  “It was easy to be able to maintain a fulltime job and do schooling at the same time… I was able to adjust my schedule and still be able to achieve what I wanted to achieve. If anyone is thinking about pursuing a veterinary technician degree, I would definitely suggest Penn Foster.” Listen to her story.

Meet Veterinary Assistant Career Diploma Graduate Savannah Reed

Dwight LaVan worked in the Medical Billing and Coding field for years. Once he realized he hit a ceiling without a degree, he looked into accredited, self-paced programs and found Ashworth College. "I really felt like it was time for me to get my degree. I got tired of looking at job openings and hoping and praying." Though he struggled with imposter syndrome and essay writing in the beginning, he finally reached his goal of completing his Associate Degree in Healthcare Administration with the help of instructors and peers in the Student Community. Listen to his story here.

Meet Ashworth Associate in Healthcare Graduate Dwight LaVan Podcast

Vet tech graduate Julia Mensen loved animals since her teens. Though she wanted to work with and around them, she never thought she would want to enter into veterinary medicine. After years of working in pet stores and as a veterinary receptionist, she became more comfortable and wanted to expand her knowledge. 

As she became more confident and inspired by her peers working in the clinic, she decided to enroll in Penn Foster’s Veterinary Technician program. After successfully completing her studies, she now helps new veterinary students hone their skills, with a specialty in dentistry. Listen to hear her story.

Meet Penn Foster Veterinary Technician Graduate Julia Mensen

Lauren Campion has always loved animals, having spent her entire life around them. She was raised with pets, worked in pet stores, and was always fascinated by the medical aspect of animal care. This interest led her to earning a biology degree from Widener University, followed by working in veterinary clinics as an assistant. Wanting to go further in her career, she knew she would have to gain the necessary certification to work as a technician in the state of Pennsylvania. As a working mom, going to school full-time wasn’t an option, so Penn Foster’s flexible, online, and accredited Veterinary Technician program was the perfect solution for her. Listen to hear more about Lauren’s journey.

Meet Penn Foster Vet Tech Graduate Lauren Campion

Congratulations to Lynn Blake, one of our 2023 Graduate of the Year finalists! Lynn always had a love of animals, so it was only natural for her to find her way into the veterinary technician field. Penn Foster allowed Lynn to follow her dream while working full-time and raising her infant daughter. She is now Fear-Free certified and manages a 45-person team at a 24/7 emergency veterinary practice.

Penn Foster GOTY Finalist Vet Tech - Lynn Blake

Congratulations to David Pennington, one of our 2023 Graduate of the Year finalists! David is a First Sergeant in the US Air Force. In his 23 years of service, he has traveled the world ensuring his commanders and team are mission ready. Enrolling in Penn Foster’s Small Engine Repair course helped him make the most of his time away from family at his last posting in South Korea. He now brings his new skills to his latest mission where he will train his team to service vital Air Force equipment, and his diploma will give him an edge over the competition when he re-enters the civilian workforce.

Penn Foster GOTY Finalist Small Engine Repair - David Pennington

Congratulations to Sydney Zaremba-Woodward, one of our 2023 Graduate of the Year finalists! Sydney started her online high school journey after moving to Poland with her family. Here, she found a love of travel and performance art. Penn Foster’s flexible scheduling allowed her to pursue her passions, while providing the right elective classes to help her earn a place in medical school in Poland.

Penn Foster GOTY Finalist High School - Sydney Zaremba - Woodward

Congratulations to Rachel Delgado, one of our 2023 Graduate of the Year finalists! After graduating high school in 2015, Rachel wasn’t sure what her next step would be. She took a few different jobs over the years, finding her passion working in the medical field. Rachel enrolled with Penn Foster to earn her Medical Billing and Coding Career Diploma and has already seen her life change.

Penn Foster GOTY Finalist Medical Billing And Coding - Rachel Delgado

Congratulations to Jailey Hall, one of our 2023 Graduate of the Year finalists! Jailey struggled to find a challenge at her local school. After much research, her parents agreed to enroll her in Penn Foster so she could complete her studies at a pace that worked best for her. She finished her high school degree in just seven weeks with a 3.95 GPA. This fall, at the age of 14, she will be enrolling in her local college to continue her academic career.

Penn Foster GOTY Finalist High School - Jailey Hall

Congratulations to Hannah Alfonso, one of our 2023 Graduate of the Year finalists! Since the age of 10, Hannah struggled with anxiety. Her small, private high school lacked the resources she needed to progress successfully, so she enrolled in James Madison High School. The ability to complete courses at her own pace provided the advantage of a less stressful environment, which in turn gave her the confidence to graduate with salutatory honors and will begin college this fall.

JMHS GOTY Finalist - Hannah Alfonso

Congratulations to Ronell Gibbs, one of our 2023 Graduate of the Year finalists! Ronell excelled in school in his youth, but after switching districts in 9th grade, he found himself struggling academically and emotionally. His mother helped him find and enroll in James Madison High School. Here, he was able to learn at his own pace, bringing his GPA up to 3.79, and restoring his confidence.

JMHS GOTY Finalist - Ronell Gibbs

2024 New York Institute of Photography grad Dennis Beaulieu shares his photography journey with interviewer Lauren. He talks about how NYIP’s online program helped him build confidence, improve his skills, and prepare for future challenges. Dennis also highlights the importance of networking, following your passion, and how education can make a difference at any age.

NYIP Interview With Photography Graduate Dennis Beaulieu

Lauren talks with Nikita about her journey as a recent graduate from Penn Foster's childcare program, diving into her passion for working with special needs children. Nikita gets into the challenges faced by parents in finding suitable childcare, her motivation for pursuing further education, and the flexibility of online learning. She also shares with us the importance of support from family and offers advice to those considering a career change. Nikita tells Lauren about her aspirations to open a daycare that caters to special needs children and the impact she hopes to have in her community.

Interview with Child Care Professional Graduate Nikita Coleman

Ever wondered what it's like to finish high school entirely online? Wyatt, a Penn Foster High School grad, talks about his experience making the switch from a traditional classroom to online learning. He shares how working at his own pace helped him balance school with extracurriculars and why having a plan and clear goals kept him motivated. If you're thinking about online school or just curious about how it works, Wyatt’s got some great advice and insights to share!

Interview with High School Graduate of the Year Finalist Wyatt Taylor

Lauren speaks with Jenny Fox: fashionista, entrepreneur, and owner of Fox Styling PNW. She transformed her love of styling and creating with others into a fulfilling career, and her work has even been in VOGUE!

How did she get started? With the Personal Style Course at NYIAD!

Jenny took control of her style--something she struggled with during the pandemic in 2020--and enrolled in the Personal Style Course. She shares her learning journey and how her final class project became a legit business.

Today, Jenny offers personal styling for individuals stuck in a rut or looking for something special. She also produces fashion shows and LGBTQ+ events in the PNW.

You can find Jenny at:
https://www.foxstylingnw.com

Learn more about NYIAD's Personal Style Course:
https://www.nyiad.edu/courses/personal-style

Interview with Personal Style Graduate Jenny Fox

Lauren sits down with Haley, an Ashworth College graduate and this year’s Graduate of the Year winner, to chat about his journey. Haley talks to us about why he chose to get his criminal justice degree from Ashworth, what it was like going to college online, and how he landed his first job out of college as a paralegal. He tells us how he stayed motivated, set goals, and made frequent use of Ashworth's learner resources. Plus, he offers some great advice for anyone thinking about going back to school and talks about what’s next for him—including applying to law school!

Interested in criminal justice? Learn more about Ashworth's BS in Criminal Justice:
https://www.ashworthcollege.edu/bachelors-degrees/online-criminal-justice-degree/

Read our interview with Haley on the Ashworth blog:
https://www.ashworthcollege.edu/blog/2024-ashworth-college-online-graduate-interview/

Interview with Ashworth College Graduate of the Year Winner, Haley Yegorov

In this episode, Jenny, Jess, and Kristin dive into what the job market looks like in 2025! They break down the hottest job opportunities, share expert tips on crafting a standout resume, and dish out interview strategies that actually work.

From tailoring your resume to showing up authentically in interviews—and even mastering the post-interview follow-up—they cover it all. Plus, Kristin brings her insider knowledge from talent acquisition to help job seekers get ahead in a competitive market. Don't miss this packed episode full of actionable career advice!

5 Jobs You Need to Know About in 2025
https://www.pennfoster.edu/blog/in-demand-careers

Top Healthcare and Medical Careers for 2025
https://www.pennfoster.edu/blog/top-healthcare-and-medical-careers

Where the Jobs Are in 2025: Is This the Year You Land Your Dream Job?

Are online high school and homeschooling the same thing? Not quite! In this episode of Fostering Conversations, Lauren breaks down the differences between the two. If you want to learn how each works, the level of parental involvement required, and how factors like accreditation, curriculum structure, and grading vary between them, check it out!

Plus, we answer two of the most common questions about Penn Foster: Is it accredited? And how do you turn in assignments? 

If you’re thinking about homeschooling or an online high school or are just curious about alternative education, this episode has all the tea!

Is Penn Foster High School Homeschooling?
https://www.pennfoster.edu/blog/is-penn-foster-homeschooling

Learn more about our online high school program:
https://www.pennfoster.edu/high-school

Is Online High School The Same As Homeschooling?

Is it too late to go back to school as an adult? Jess and Jenny break down what it’s really like to return to school later in life. They discuss the challenges adult learners face, share study and time management tips, and offer words of encouragement to help you stay motivated. Plus, hear inspiring stories from graduates who have successfully earned their diplomas and degrees at any age. If you’re considering furthering your education, this episode is for you!

Go back to school at any age:
https://www.pennfoster.edu/high-school/for-adults

Got questions about returning to high school as an adult? We've got answers!
https://www.pennfoster.edu/blog/going-back-to-school-as-an-adult-faqs

Should You Go Back to School as an Adult? What You Need to Know!

Jenny, Jess, and Dr. Andy Shean discuss how AI and LLM (language learning models) can be used in education to help students and teachers. They get into how AI could be an affordable tutor, but that it is somewhat unreliable and to be cautious. 

Are AI Tutors the Future of Equitable Learning?

Twin sisters Kaitlyn and Kourtney Fedor graduated together and celebrated their achievements at Penn Foster's graduation ceremony on June 1, 2019. Both graduated from the Dental Assistant Program. "We both were looking for a dental assistant program for a long time that would work well with our busy schedules. We came across Penn Foster and were instantly surprised by not only the affordability but by the way staff was always there if you had a question(which is amazing for an online program)... We recommend PF to anyone who wants to start something but thinks they can't because with PF anything is possible," said Kaitlyn and Kourtney. Listen to their stories.

Meet Penn Foster Dental Assistant Graduates Kaitlyn and Kourtney Fedor

As a mom, Angelina Lowder wanted to set an example for her children. But, with work and family obligations she didn't think she would be able to achieve her dream of earning a bachelor's degree. Thanks to Penn Foster's learning model, she was able to graduate and advance her career. "Being able to take classes online provided me a unique opportunity to go at my own pace. It enabled me to have confidence and provided a great sense of personal accomplishment. Penn Foster was a perfect fit," said Angelina. Listen to her story.

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