Despite a lifetime of family issues with drug abuse, Dena Braun beat the odds and became the perfect role model for her son. Through education, Braun turned her career dreams into reality and is now a medical assistant. In recognition of her efforts, Braun, a graduate of Everest Institute – Austin, is the winner of the 2011 Dream Award. This award recognizes a graduate who has completed post-secondary education while overcoming extraordinary challenges.
Dena Braun had anything but an ideal childhood. With a drug addict as a mother and a father in and out of jail, her grandmother primarily raised Braun. Although she was determined to escape the lifestyle she was raised in, Braun married a man who became an addict much like her mother, and they started a family. In the back of her mind, however, Braun always remembered a statistic a counselor once shared with her – children of addicts have only a 10 percent chance of avoiding drug abuse themselves.
“Being one of the ten percent to live a sober life seemed impossible to achieve when drug abuse was all I’ve known,” said Braun, “but I wanted to give my son the best opportunities possible, since my parents were unable to give that to me.”
After her divorce, Braun recommitted to her education and completed her GED. She learned there was a large job market for medical assistants and decided to attend Everest to obtain the necessary skills. For the first time, she felt confident in the classroom and earned straight A’s. Despite her personal struggles, Braun demonstrated great leadership while at Everest. As a student ambassador, she organized study groups for struggling students in her free time.
Braun’s commitment was tested when her mother died during her externship, but with the support of her instructor and classmates, she still completed her degree. Braun graduated and is now a medical assistant at Seton Heart Institute. She plans to return to school and become a nurse.
“Despite all her struggles Dena completed the program in eight months,” said Kimberly Oppermann, president of Everest Institute – Austin. “She realized her potential and followed her dreams. She is truly inspiration to others here at Everest.”
As a Dream Award winner, she will receive a $2,500 Everest scholarship to pursue advanced programs in her chosen field of study.
About Everest in Texas
Everest Colleges and Institutes provide career-oriented diploma and degree programs in healthcare, criminal justice, skilled trades, business and paralegal. Everest in Texas has approximately 5,700 students at nine campuses located in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. Everest has more than 100 schools in the U.S. and Canada, and is owned by Corinthian Colleges, Inc., one of the largest post-secondary education companies in North America. For more information, visit www.everest.edu. Programs vary by campus.
For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program and other important information, please visit our website at www.everest.edu/disclosures.
