Since grade school, Kedrick Jones had been passionate about technology. But after earning associate degrees in general technology and general studies from Southeast Arkansas College, Jones thought earning a bachelor’s degree in computer science was a distant dream. His job at the time kept him from having the flexibility to continue attending college courses.
But thanks to the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith’s completer degree program, through which students earning associate degrees in certain fields of study can complete the final two years of college online to earn baccalaureate degrees from UAFS, Jones can now boast a four-year degree.
Jones earned a degree from UAFS, where the online coursework accommodated his busy schedule and challenged him academically.
“The online environment was awesome,” Jones said. “We were able to participate, ask questions and be involved with the on-campus class. We were able to hear the professor teach and her students response using the meeting software that was provided by the instructor.”
He was also able to apply his passion for computer science, fostered at a young age, when he would buy computers from the local flea market and disassemble them just to see what was inside.
“Once I entered high school, I enrolled in a networking course, and from that day, I knew that computers and technology were for me,” Jones said. “I'm very good at troubleshooting and figuring out problems.”
After graduating from UAFS, Jones has flourished as a leader in the Pine Bluff community. He earned a job as the IT/Network Specialist at Southeast Arkansas Transportation and currently serves on boards for several organizations, including Jefferson County Young Professionals Network and LINQ for Life. He is also the founder and chief executive officer of Healthy Lifestylez. Recently, he was named to the 2018 class of Leadership Pine Bluff.
He attributes his education from UAFS as integral to his success.
“UAFS has prepared me in many ways,” he said. “The coursework alone played a major role because the research papers, nonprofit and business management courses and real-world assignment scenarios really showed me a different side of things.”
About the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith
The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith is the premiere regional institution of Western Arkansas, connecting education with careers and serving as a driver of economic development and quality of place in the greater Fort Smith region. Small class sizes, dedicated faculty and staff, affordable tuition rates, and a diverse on-campus culture allow UAFS students to fully explore their areas of interest in ways that prepare them for post-graduate success academically, professionally, and personally. To find out what makes UAFS just right for you, go to www.uafs.edu.