Amanda Edwards

—Prepared for success as a graduate student and a specialist in the nursing field

As a first-generation college student, Amanda Edwards feels blessed to have earned her associate degree from CHC in the spring of 2013. “God put me in the right place at the right time. I had just moved to Yucaipa and Crafton was the local community college available to me. I was blessed,” Edwards stated.

Edwards works as a breast cancer specialist who assists patients with all aspects of the treatment trajectory from screening to diagnosis, through treatment including surgery and chemotherapy and to survivorship or palliation and is pursuing her Doctorate in Nursing at Loma Linda University.

Edwards shares that it was a challenge to return to school as a single mother in her thirties.  “My start at Crafton was sudden and difficult. The process for application and financial aid was completely different than I remembered. I even had to relearn how to do research since everything was now online!”  Edwards confessed.

In her opinion, Crafton serves as a great transition to higher education. She believes it is a safe haven for non-traditional students returning to school as adult learners, first generation students, and veterans. She credits her time at Crafton for preparing her for success as a graduate student and a specialist in the nursing field today.

Edwards commends the top-notch science classes at Crafton and expressed that Crafton graduates have an excellent reputation as being prepared for transfer to area universities. “Medicine, Nursing, Radiology and other highly impacted programs and fields require critical thinking and preparation that Crafton provides,” said Edwards.

Her advice to students trying to choose a college is to do research with specific goals in mind. Find out university requirements and find a college that can help you meet those expectations. “The right college leads to the right university and then the right career,” says Edwards.

In addition to her degree from CHC, Edwards holds a B.S. in Nursing from Loma Linda University School of Nursing graduating Cum Laude and is a member of Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing. We are proud to have Amanda Edwards as an alumnus of Crafton Hills College.

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