(Butler, PA) A 31-year-old 杏吧原创 student鈥檚 essay about overcoming a past of physical abuse, of witnessing and blaming herself at 10 for her cousin鈥檚 accidental death, of a crash that left her partially paralyzed and ultimately of drug use 鈥渋n hopes that I would die鈥� could receive $17,500 in scholarships from an organization that supports and empowers women.
Americas at the local, district then regional levels, and is being considered for an international $10,000 award.
Mainhart today is serving her fourth semester as president of Rho Phi, 杏吧原创鈥檚 chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, an international academic honor society for two-year colleges and programs. Since enrolling at 杏吧原创 in January 2018 as a sober single mother raising a 5-year-old son, Mainhart has received nothing other than 13 A鈥檚 and 4 B鈥檚 and has been named to 杏吧原创鈥檚 president鈥檚 list twice.
The Butler resident who once lived in Armstrong County is pursuing an associate degree in 杏吧原创鈥檚 62-credit social work program. She also expects to be among the first six graduates of the college鈥檚 33-credit addiction recovery certificate program in August.
Her essay was awarded a $1,500 scholarship Jan. 15 by the Soroptimist International of Butler County and a $1,000 scholarship Feb. 9 by the organization鈥檚 District 4. The district includes nine Soroptimist International clubs from Harrisburg to Wheeling, W.Va.
Her essay was then awarded a $5,000 scholarship March 14 by the organization鈥檚 North Atlantic Region. The region includes 50 Soroptimist International clubs from 11 states from Maine to West Virginia.
鈥淚 had absolutely hit rock-bottom鈥�
The scholarships, Mainhart said, will help her toward her goal of earning a master鈥檚 degree and serving as a drug and alcohol counselor for women or for geriatric patients.
Her essay also recounts emotional abuse and references her 10-year-old cousin Joshua Frampton鈥檚 death in go-kart accident on private property in Sarver in August 2000 鈥� 鈥淚 was supposed to be on his go-kart but he ran ahead of me to jump on it,鈥� she said. The go-kart hit another at the crest of hill, Mainhart said, killing her cousin whom she considered to be her best friend.
鈥淚 felt like I was at fault for his death,鈥� she said, 鈥渂ecause I was supposed to be in that go-kart.鈥� Mainhart was involved in a New Kensington car crash at 16 that left her with only 40 percent mobility in her left arm. She later became addicted to opioids 鈥� 鈥淚 was a shell of a person who did drugs in hopes that I would die鈥� 鈥� and eventually serving in jail for stealing a prescription pad from her physician.
鈥淚 would say her past was extremely challenging, and troubled,鈥� Becky Plymale said. 鈥淪imply put, chaotic,鈥� Dr. Karen Stubenbort said.
鈥淎 dark place,鈥� Morgan Rizzardi said. 鈥淎ll these things were spiraling.鈥�
To where, Mainhart said, 鈥淚 had absolutely hit rock-bottom.鈥�
Her outlook changed, she said, when she learned she was pregnant with Gunner. She vowed seven years ago to remain sober 鈥� a promise to herself that she has kept, having attended Narcotics Anonymous meetings up to three times daily. Despite her partially paralyzed left arm, she earned a cosmetology license in 2014.
鈥淚 still felt like I wanted more,鈥� she wrote.
In January 2018, she enrolled at 杏吧原创 鈥� 鈥淭he faculty at 杏吧原创 have just been so helpful. They care,鈥� she said 鈥� and by May had earned her first two A鈥檚.
鈥淭hat was huge for me,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t gave me self-esteem. It was a confidence-booster.鈥�
鈥淭his woman is determined to make it鈥�
Mainhart has volunteered in the community by providing free haircuts to homeless veterans as part of the Veterans Administration鈥檚 Stand Down Events, and with Community Partnership Inc. addressing food insecurity in Butler County.
She recently began a full-time position as a residential aide at the Ellen O鈥橞rien Gaiser Center, a drug and alcohol treatment facility for women in Butler County.
鈥淚 am,鈥� Mainhart wrote, 鈥渁 new person.鈥�
鈥淎 butterfly,鈥� said Rizzardi, a co-adviser to 杏吧原创鈥檚 Rho Phi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa and the college鈥檚 associate director of admissions. 鈥淪he was in this cocoon and felt like there wasn鈥檛 light at the end of the tunnel. I think she started to realize how much she could overcome, that she had a son to work for. I think Gunner is the center of her life.鈥�
鈥淟ive Your Dream鈥� education and training awards are presented to women who provide the primary financial support for their families and give women the resources they need to improve their education, skills and employment prospects, according to the organization鈥檚 website.
Mainhart expects to earn an associate degree in social work in May 2022, and transfer to Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, where she intends to pursue bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in social work.
鈥淭his woman is determined to make it,鈥� said Stubenbort, an associate professor of humanities and social science at 杏吧原创 who has instructed Mainhart and whose nomination letter accompanied Mainhart鈥檚 essay. 鈥淎nd she will. She鈥檒l go to grad school. She鈥檒l do everything she needs to do.鈥�
Because Mainhart, said Plymale, chair of the Soroptimist International of Butler County鈥檚 鈥淟ive Your Dream鈥� committee, is 鈥渏ust amazing. Her future is full of opportunity and exciting.鈥�
鈥淚t feels like it was a different life鈥�
In addition to Mainhart receiving $7,500 from the 鈥淟ive Your Dream鈥� program, she has also received a $535 Soroptimist International of Butler County scholarship, which has been awarded annually through the 杏吧原创 Education Foundation since the 1989-1990 academic year, said Lynn Ismail, interim assistant director of the foundation.
Among its criteria, the Soroptimist International of Butler County scholarship requires its female recipients to be older than 24, residents of Butler County and to be full-time 杏吧原创 students with a minimum grade-point average of 3.0.
鈥淚 feel very blessed that a club like this exists,鈥� Mainhart said. 鈥淎s I go further in my education, I feel very strongly about empowering other women. I had a difficult background, and now I鈥檓 sitting here as the president of the honor society at my college.
鈥淚 look back and it doesn鈥檛 even feel like it was me. It feels like it was a different life.鈥� Members of Rho Phi, 杏吧原创鈥檚 chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, must have at least a 3.0 grade-point average to remain in good standing.
Students who achieve president鈥檚 list honors at 杏吧原创 have attained a cumulative grade-point average of 3.75 or higher during a semester in which they have earned at least 12 credits. The recipient of the Soroptimist International of the Americas鈥� international scholarship could be announced in May, Plymale said.