Bell Tower | Business and IndustryOctober 16, 2024

CBI Grad Shares Wisdom to Make a Difference

Sunshine Bartlett, UAFS class of 2011, stays busy. She is a senior vice president and human resources manager at Arvest Bank in Fort Smith. She graduated – Summa Cum Laude – from a three-year program at Barret School of Banking in Memphis. She also is the board president for the Single Parent Scholarship Fund in Arkansas for 2024-2025. 

She's proud of all her work, but she has a special shine when she talks about ASPSF scholarships.

"I came from a single-parent household, and I saw how my mom struggled," she said. "I am invested in the single-parent cause, especially in Arkansas."

U.S. Census Bureau data indicates that 35 percent of Arkansas single-parent families live below the poverty level. To break the cycle of poverty, Arkansans must work together to increase educational opportunities for their communities. Today, more employers seek applicants with degrees or certifications. Such jobs are considered more dependable and can help employees advance financially.

"Education and poverty are directly linked," Bartlett said. "Money makes a difference."

ASPSF financial awards do not need to be used for tuition. The money can be used for a babysitter, car repair, medical treatment, or whatever recipients need.

Students may be awarded up to $1,600 per semester. This amount "might not seem like a lot, but it can be the difference between someone dropping out of school or not. … The ultimate goal is to empower individuals to cultivate careers that elevate them out of poverty, consequently breaking the cycle and uplifting future generations as well," she said.

UAFS provides a 25 percent match for students who receive ASPSF scholarships and attend the college. In supporting these students, the university demonstrates its mission to empower the social mobility of its students and, through their advancement, promote the River Valley's economic growth. 

Bartlett, who has been on the Single Parent Scholarship board since 2019, said she was especially proud to be involved with the organization's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many students lacked access to the internet and equipment or lost childcare. One student reported parking outside of a library with their kids in the car trying to get connected so they could do their homework. The fund was able to help. ASPSF provided 50 laptops to single-parent students, awarded $10,000 in rental assistance, and provided an additional $238,700 in emergency funds to help recipients stay in school. One hundred percent of scholars completed the semester.

Unique to ASPSF scholarships are the special services offered in addition to the cash awards. "It's not just 'Here's sixteen hundred dollars,'" she said. "It's also about the wrap-around services." Those services encompass a range of options and might include a class focused on car maintenance, cooking, or financial literacy. Additional support activities like mentoring, advising, and attentive listening ensure a comprehensive approach to addressing individual needs and goals.

As a first-generation, non-traditional student who was over 30 when she graduated, Bartlett said she has a different perspective about her time at UAFS than students who attend college right out of high school.

Working full-time while she went to college full-time forced her to find a way to balance responsibilities. Taking night classes helped.

"I was determined to receive my degree," she said. "And as an employer, I look at that. 'You had all these other responsibilities, but you persevered and graduated.'”

Despite the pressures on her time, Bartlett didn’t take shortcuts when it came to building relationships on campus and in the community.

She became a member and president of the Collegiate Ambassador Board, a prestigious position that gave her access to business leaders, including First National Bank President and CEO Sam Sicard. First National partnered with the university to provide monthly education about various bank departments.

Bartlett encourages current students, especially single parents, to find a way to get involved on campus and in their communities despite their responsibilities.

“Look for as many resources as you can. You don’t have to do it alone. Use your advisor. Immerse yourself in your community and network. Get to know people who can help. And don’t ever give up; don’t take no for an answer; keep trying.”

Bartlett remains active in the Fort Smith region, where she is known as a UAFS graduate.

“Sunshine is an excellent example of the College of Business and Industry's proven ability to produce the next generation of business professionals and community leaders,” said Dr. Latisha Settlage, Dean of the College of Business and Industry. “Her leadership as a human resources professional is a tremendous asset to Arvest and the Fort Smith region. We are proud of her professional success.”

Bartlett said UAFS suited her in many ways. As a non-traditional student, she didn’t have access to scholarships, but because of the university’s affordability, she could graduate with minimal student debt. She also said the business administration degree she earned offered versatility in the job market.

After she graduated, Bartlett became involved in Mentor Connections at UAFS. The program partnered students with a young alumni mentor and an executive leader. Bartlett, who was working at Golden Living at the time, joined a trio with Rodney Shepard, an Arvest executive in Fort Smith. She believes the relationship they developed that year led to Shepard’s contacting her when a human redsources position opened up at Arvest.

She loves Arvest’s culture.

“At Arvest’s core is a responsibility to be present in, and give back to, our communities,” she explained. She is supported in her work at ASPSF.

She also serves on the Fort Smith Symphony board and holds positions with professional HR organizations.

But ASPSF holds a special meaning for her.

“Over the past decade, over 88% of ASPSF students have graduated or completed their program of choice. We are definitely making a difference in people’s lives in Arkansas,” she said.

• Tags:
• Bell Tower
• College of Business and Industry