SOCIAL SERVICES
Bright Futures Ahead
The future looks promising for residents affiliated with Mount Dora Children’s Home. This year’s graduates includes not only three high school seniors at MDCA, but also three former Children’s Home students graduating from college, and two graduates of MDCH’s Single Parent Program.
MDCA Graduates
Graduates from the Children’s Home program were; Riley Barnes, Leah Marshall, and Madison Smith. Riley has moved to North Carolina where she plans to train to be a dental assistant. Leah received a college scholarship to Southeastern Louisiana State University where she will play softball. She plans to major in pre-med and/or nutrition specialties. Madison will be moving to the Orlando area to attend Orange Technical College. She wants to become a certified vet technician and also complete a certification in cosmetology. We’re proud of all three of these young ladies and wish them well in their future plans.
Former Students Earn College Degrees
Three former residents of Mount Dora Children's Home graduated from college this spring and have exciting plans for their futures. They are Jairen Gilmore, Siera Hagan Fulford, and Athena Wagner. Jairen graduated from North Carolina A&T University and is making plans to enroll for a master's degree in computer science. He hopes to eventually earn a doctorate degree and teach at the college level. Siera, the daughter of former MDCH house parents Chris and Tonya Hagan, graduated from Freed-Hardeman University in nursing. It was an especially busy summer for Siera. She moved to Nashville, began work at Vanderbilt Medical Center, and married Bryce Fulford! Athena graduated from Harding University. She is now working on her CPA exam and hopes to earn a master's degree.
Single Parents Graduate
Two of the moms in our Single Parent Program are successfully graduating from the program this summer and fall. All have benefited in multiple ways from the program; including growing spiritually, improving their financial situations, securing training for their careers, and learning to provide more stable homes for their children. These single parents have exciting plans for their futures. Tyanna Strimple graduated this summer from Lake Technical College, receiving her certification as a phlebotomist. She and her two daughters, Nasia and Fiora, have moved to the Gainesville area to be closer to family. Tyanna is buying her own home there and has secured a job in healthcare. Single parent Amica Banks began work as a full-time staff accountant for a property management company, even before graduating from the Single Parent Program. Amica moved here two years ago when her twin daughters, Morgan and Courtney, were only four years old. Amica said the Single Parent Program helped her recover after experiencing a low point in her life. “I was so grateful. We had nowhere to go,” said Amica. “At that moment in my life, when I got accepted into the program, I basically had nothing. To be accepted at that moment was lifechanging for me. I had no clue that a program like this actually existed,” Amica added. “I persuade anyone and everyone (who needs this type of assistance) to apply for this program. It’s a wonderful program. I tell people how blessed I’ve been since joining it.”
Leah Marshall, Madison Smith, and Riley Barnes.
5 | Imagine · Fall 2021
Tyanna and her daughters, Nasia and Flora.
Amica Banks with her daughters, Morgan and Courtney.
