Redding Woman Overcomes Obstacles to Earn Simpson University Degree

For Immediate Release

01.23.2017

REDDING, Calif. - Five years after taking a college sculpting class for fun with her daughters, Margaret Hampton graduated with her B.A. in organizational leadership through Simpson University’s School of Adult and Graduate Professional Studies, ASPIRE program. She was also one of the first in her large family to graduate with a bachelor’s degree.

“This degree will allow me to find employment that will help me to be self-supportive, an effective leader, and an inspiration to my children and grandchildren,” she said. “One of my daughters told me that I have inspired her to go back to college to seek her degree, and she will be attending Simpson in the future.”

Hampton, a mother of three and Redding resident, was one of more than 160 students who graduated during Simpson’s winter commencement ceremony on Jan. 21. She was also inducted into Alpha Sigma Lambda, a national honor society for continuing education students who maintain at least a 3.8 grade-point average. Hampton graduated with a 3.95 grade-point average.

“Although I am 53 years of age and have had many medical issues that could have put me at a standstill with my education, I pushed forward to reach my goal,” she said. “This has been a tremendous accomplishment for me, and I am so very thankful for my experience at Simpson University.”

Hampton started taking ASPIRE courses in the fall of 2015. She was part of a 12-month-long online degree program. She connected with professors and classmates using email, Skype, and Moodle, Simpson’s online learning management system. In addition to organizational leadership, the ASPIRE program offers an online B.A. in psychology.

“The online classes allowed me to be comfortable doing my schoolwork in my own environment,” she said. “I could also work at my own pace and at any hours. I also had the convenience of taking my schoolwork to comfortable places that I would not be able to do on campus.”

Earning her bachelor’s degree was no easy feat for Hampton. While in the program, she had several surgeries that left her bed-ridden for long periods of time, and she dealt with a panic anxiety disorder.

“I was not going to let these struggles stop me from reaching my goal,” she said. “I faced my fears and challenges and worked through them with great success.”

For Hampton, all she has learned and how to utilize that knowledge in a career were the most rewarding aspects of the ASPIRE program.

“I found that I am capable of achieving a degree and the program has allowed me to realize that I love to learn,” she said.

Based on her positive experience, Hampton said she would recommend the ASPIRE program to others.

“I have received an excellent education and great support from the professors and my counselor,” she said. “The staff in the ASPIRE program care about their students and have helped me at times when I felt overwhelmed and ill. They truly care about their students and their futures.”

Hampton was also challenged in her faith journey while attending Simpson.

“The ASPIRE program has helped my relationship grow with God,” she said. “I have learned to turn to the Bible often and study His word to strengthen myself. I have also received prayers from my professors and others through hard times from Simpson.”

Hampton is looking for a job that will utilize what she has learned in her leadership classes at Simpson and the psychology classes she took while at Shasta College. She plans on taking classes toward earning her master’s degree in organizational leadership from Simpson starting this fall.

-By Elise Wilson

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Simpson University, established in 1921, is a Christian university offering undergraduate, graduate, and teaching credential programs. The university celebrated its 25th year in Redding and the completion of a Science and Nursing Center in 2014. Academic programs include ASPIRE, a degree-completion program geared toward working adults with both on-campus and online course offerings, including degrees in psychology and organizational leadership. For information about the university, or to arrange a campus visit, call 1-888-9-SIMPSON or visit simpsonu.edu.

Contact: SU Public Relations
mediarelations@simpsonu.edu
(530) 226-4737