February 15, 2020
Story and photo by Brandon Steinert
Sam Henke of Great Bend, is a 30-year-old single mother to five boys ages three to 14, is determined to rise out of poverty and create a brand-new life for herself and her children. ÌýShe is pursuing an education in Automotive Technology at ºìÐÓÊÓƵ with her sights set on running her own auto repair business. A program called Journey to Resolve Poverty, formerly known as Circles, inspired her to take action and enroll.
“I’m doing this for the kids,†she said. “As a single parent, this is about showing my kids they can do anything they put their mind to. That’s what keeps me going through all this.â€
While she was motivated to take action to better the lives of her children,Ìýshe also has a strong sense of empathy for others in similar life situations.
“In the midst of all this, I have realized the need to help those who can’t quite afford repairs on their vehicles,†she said. “When I open up shop, one of my main goals will be to help those who can’t fully afford it.â€
Henke has taken the wheel and set a new course for her life, and she hopes to inspire others to do the same.
“There are a lot of programs here (at ºìÐÓÊÓƵ) that anybody can take,†she said. “If you have the dream and the will for it, do it. Don’t let anything get in your way.â€
Go to auto.bartonccc.edu for more information on the ºìÐÓÊÓƵ Automotive Technology program or contact Automotive Technology Instructor Ron Kirmer at kirmerr@bartonccc.edu or (620) 792-9255.
This feature is part of ºìÐÓÊÓƵ's celebration of Career Technical Education (CTE) Month throughout February.