How ��Ƶ Students Achieve Their Goals

How ��Ƶ students achieve their goals

Figures in graduation caps to signify university of phoenix students

While there is more than one way to determine just how much you’re learning in class, nothing feels quite like earning top marks. Here, we check in with five UOPX students who earned a spot on the Dean’s List or President’s List in July 2025 to see how they make the grade while making everything else — job, kids, goals — work for them too.

��Ƶ students share their secrets

��Ƶ students know that getting an education is about more than turning in papers, memorizing facts and writing discussion posts. It is also about synthesizing information and letting that deepen and shape their worldview.

That said, it feels pretty good to be recognized for doing all of that successfully. At ��Ƶ, students earn a place on the Dean’s List when they achieve a 3.5 GPA or higher while pursuing an associate or bachelor’s degree and complete a minimum number of credits, and at least a 3.70 GPA while pursuing a master’s. For the President’s List, ��Ƶ students must earn a 4.0 GPA and a minimum number of credits. (Requirements vary based on degree.) It’s not easy, but it’s doable. Here’s how.

The transformative power of perseverance

Kimberly D. Hightower (Dean’s List)

Based in the Houston suburbs, Kimberly D. Hightower lists many vocations to her name: CEO and entrepreneur, NLP practitioner, life and EQ coach, and bereavement liaison, among others. Her specialty? Guiding women through trauma, grief and “transformation.”

It’s a tall order, especially in light of her community outreach work. But Hightower believes in commitment, which is one reason why UOPX was such a good fit.

Christine Neider, Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Science

Kimberly D. Hightower

“I chose ��Ƶ because it aligns with my personal and professional growth goals while offering the flexibility to balance school, business, family and community service,” she says. “UOPX’s focus on working professionals allows me to pursue higher education without putting aside the things that matter most.

Hightower found that time-blocking and self-discipline were two mighty weapons against procrastination and failure. “I prioritize schoolwork early in the day and set realistic, manageable goals,” she explains. “Clear boundaries and structured schedules keep me moving forward.”

Hightower does all this while also managing an autoimmune disease. “Living with lupus, chronic migraines with aura, and ulnar nerve damage requires resilience and discipline, but I refuse to let these challenges define me,” she says.

Her accomplishments bear this out. Hightower recently completed her Bachelor of Science in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and plans to embark on a master’s program in the same discipline in November 2025. The goal? To expand her career in organizational development and employee wellness alongside her work as a coach.

For now, this ��Ƶ student relishes her accomplishments in her bachelor’s program, which earned her a spot on the Dean’s List. “Earning a place on the Dean’s List is a symbol of resilience, dedication and perseverance,” she says. “It validates the sacrifices I’ve made and represents not just academic success but also personal victory over adversity.”

Following in her sister’s footsteps

Alexandra LeMehaute (President’s List)

For Alexandra LeMehaute, the inspiration to go back to school transcends career. It’s about family.

Alexandra LeMehaute

About six years ago, my little sister was a student pursuing a criminal justice degree, and she said how amazing [��Ƶ] was,” LeMehaute says.

“Unfortunately, she passed away and could not finish the program she started. When I thought about going back to school at 35 years old, it just felt right to come to UOPX. I honestly believe [my sister] has been guiding me throughout this process and would be so proud!”

While LeMehaute is focusing on her education full time (she wants to become a therapist and is pursuing at Bachelor of Science in Social Work as a first step), she does face challenges: She has grieved her sister’s passing, she goes to therapy three times a week to work through her childhood trauma, and she takes her mother for cancer treatments. Despite the emotional toll of these experiences, she has repeatedly earned a place on the Dean’s List and the President’s List.

“Earning a spot on the President’s List means so much to me. It means that all of my hard work is paying off,” she says.

LeMehaute attributes part of her success as a ��Ƶ student to organization. If an assignment is due Thursday, for example, she sets aside time Tuesday or Wednesday to work on it. “I give myself enough time to properly complete everything that is due,” she explains. “Then I am able to utilize Thursday through Monday to work on the rest of my assignments.”

LeMehaute recognizes that her dream of working in mental health is several steps and years away, yet her focus remains unwavering. “Mental health is so important to me because of my own experiences with it, and I want to be in a position where I can help as many individuals as possible,” she says.

No doubt her sister would be proud.

“You can do this. Success is attainable and possible, and UOPX is an amazing University that will support you in everything you do!”

Giving back and never giving up

Julia Medina (Dean’s List)

For Julia Medina, going back to school isn’t a “nice to have” — it’s a must-have. Her job in her city’s public works department feels like a calling she wants to grow in.

Julia Medina

“My goal is to apply the skills and knowledge I’ve gained to grow within my current role and take on more leadership responsibilities,” she says. “I am passionate about serving my community, and I believe my degree will empower me to do so even more effectively.”

Medina doesn’t find all this easy. As this ��Ƶ student pursues her Bachelor of Science in Business Management, she must also hold down a full-time job and raise her young daughter. “Juggling [my daughter’s] school schedule, after-school activities and the all-consuming, marvelous adventure of nurturing a growing mind and spirit … is definitely where a lot of my time is allocated!” she says.

The cadence that comes with balancing these commitments can often feel more like a jam session than a well-ordered orchestra. “My biggest challenge has definitely been finding a consistent rhythm between my work and school life,” Medina explains. “There are days when I’m exhausted after a long shift, and the last thing I want to do is open a textbook. However, I’ve learned to push through those moments by reminding myself of the bigger picture and the reasons I started this journey in the first place.”

Medina has other practical solutions as well. She says she treats her coursework like a “non-negotiable appointment” by time-blocking her schedule. In this way, she doesn’t have to hope free time magically appears during her week.

While going back to school has presented new challenges, Medina sees herself rising to each occasion. This series of accomplishments culminated in her place on the Dean’s List in July 2025.

“My biggest triumph is honestly just showing up every single day and not giving up,” she says. “Earning a spot on the Dean’s List is a tangible representation of that hard work and perseverance.”

“Believe in yourself and be relentless. Your journey will not be easy, and there will be moments when you question if it’s all worth it. During those times, remember your ‘why.’ Remember the future you’re working to build. Every small step forward is progress, and with each lesson you learn, you are getting closer to your goals. You are capable of more than you know.”

Want it done? Give it to a busy person

Richard B. Roche (Dean’s List)

Currently pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Business with a Leadership and Management Certificate, Richard Roche isn’t losing any momentum after completing his associate degree (with, he proudly notes, a 4.0 GPA).

Richard B. Roche

“My best strategy is to stay ahead of schedule whenever possible. Once I get into a rhythm with a class, I continue working until I’m ready to stop, often finishing assignments early,” he explains.

This goes for discussion posts, too, which he likes to write as soon as they’re available so he can simply copy-and-paste when they’re due.

Working ahead is particularly important so he can fulfill his obligations outside being a ��Ƶ student. In addition to his full-time role as a communications engineer in Florida, Roche is a therapeutic foster parent, which means he’s been trained to foster children who’ve “endured significant trauma or loss,” he says. He and his wife have done this together since 2009, he says, fostering between 60 and 70 children while also raising their two biological children, their adult son, their two adopted children and Roche’s great-nephew.

Roche, in other words, is a busy guy. Yet, while flexibility and efficiency matter, he also notes the importance of prioritizing education itself.

“My biggest challenge has been balancing my desire to complete the program as quickly as possible while ensuring that I do not miss important learning opportunities along the way.” Considering that his plans include an eventual master’s degree, it’s no surprise he wants to absorb as much information as possible in his bachelor’s degree program. He also hopes to move into management someday and mentor others on how they can grow and pursue their goals.

“Being on the Dean’s List represents my commitment to doing my best,” Roche says. “It also shows others that if I can achieve this while balancing work and family, they can too. I use it as a way to encourage my colleagues and friends to pursue higher education.”

“Never give up. Keep learning and growing. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from those with more experience, and seek out a mentor. Setting and following SMART goals [specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-bound] is also key to staying on track.”

When not even chronic illness can stand in her way

Angela Shupe (Dean’s List)

Artistic, articulate and a committed advocate, Angela Shupe is no stranger to adversity. She enrolled at UOPX in her late 20s while raising her child, working full time and running a freelance business on the side. Eventually life’s commitments interrupted, and she stepped away. Her health declined. Those two factors alone might have spelled “the end” for her education — except that Shupe happens to be a believer in the art of the pivot.

In 2023, she went to the hospital for a planned procedure and care providers realized her heart rate was upward of 150 beats per minute. She was whisked off to the emergency room for stabilization, and the experience became a turning point for her, she says.

Angela Shupe

“There is nothing like being strapped to a machine that will restart your heart … to realize that life is short, and now is the time to tackle that bucket list,” she says.

For Shupe, that meant finishing the associate degree she’d started 10 years earlier. So, one month after that hospital visit, Shupe reenrolled at UOPX. She completed her associate degree and went on to enroll in the Bachelor of Science of Business with a Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship Certificate program, despite having chronic health issues.

While Shupe is grateful to receive the accommodations she needs at UOPX, she relies on her own effort to succeed in school. She leverages a project management tool, for example, to track her schoolwork, medical appointments, freelance projects and self-care routines. Then, to get the most out of her coursework, she creates notes for an immersive reader tool so that she can listen to the information in clear, bite-size chunks.

“Sometimes I created summaries or lists of just equations that I could look over when needed,” she adds. “I started turning information into bullet points that I could read at a glance, especially when my brain didn’t want to absorb information.”

These adaptations have empowered her to surpass her goals. After this ��Ƶ student completes her bachelor’s degree, she hopes to earn her MBA so that she can mentor others. “I want to make the skills accessible to the little man, the business owners who don’t have the money to hire a professional or the time to go to school,” she says. “Turning my education into guidance is my success; their business will be theirs.”

“Don’t be afraid to pivot and adapt. Seriously. It is what keeps me on track. Just because a hurdle has come up on my path, I pivot to the left or right and keep moving forward. Life isn’t consistent, and the educational journey isn’t either. … Don’t let your regrets consume you; simply turn them into opportunities instead.”

Learn more about ��Ƶ students and alumni

��Ƶ students and alumni have stories to share! Explore following channels:

Alumni Chronicles: The blog that started it all, this collection of alumni profiles reveals how diverse and persistent the UOPX student body is.
Alumni Chronicles Magazine: Designed to guide alumni through career trends, this publication also shares ways to get involved after graduation.
Degrees of Success™ podcast: Hear stories of professional success straight from the alumni themselves.

Note: These five featured ��Ƶ students were selected after entering a social media contest available to Dean’s List and President’s List honorees interested in being spotlighted.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elizabeth Exline has been telling stories ever since she won a writing contest in third grade. She's covered design and architecture, travel, lifestyle content and a host of other topics for national, regional, local and brand publications. Additionally, she's worked in content development for Marriott International and manuscript development for a variety of authors.

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