ACCELERATED CLASSES

To learn more about LeMoyne-Owen’s Accelerated Degree Completion Program, go to loc.edu, and look under “Academics.” The Memphis Talent Dividend College Attainment Initiative, a program of Leadership Memphis, is trying to increase the number of college graduates in Memphis. To learn more, go to memphistalentdividend.com. semester and did not let those hard times stop her. Her perseverance was just amazing.”

It’d be nice if this story then mentioned Burnside’s 4.0 GPA.

“She’s not the most gifted student,” Edwards admitted. “She’s failed a class or two, but she didn’t let that stop her.”

So maybe the ending is the good-paying job Burnside, 57, found after graduation last month?

Unfortunately, no. So far, Burnside hasn’t found anything. She’d like to work with a business’ recycling program or run a landfill. That’s what she has experience in and she has her commercial driver’s license.

She also has about $50,000 in student loans, which she plans to pay off with her income tax refund checks for the next decade or so.

Burnside still drives for Head Start, but it’s out for the summer.

“This is my first time not working since 1975,” said Burnside, whose first job was alongside her sharecropper parents in the cotton fields.

What she does have, though, is a degree. And more determination than most. And a lot of gratitude for her alma mater.

“When you leave LeMoyne, you’re going to have the skills you need,” she said.

“It’s not going to be easy, but they’re going to give you something that will last the rest of your life.”

Contact Wendi C. Thomas at (901) 529-5896 or e-mail thomasw@commercialappeal.com.