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My name is Tabitha Ward and I was born and raised in Conway, AR. I am the Public Housing Manager for the Conway Housing Authority/HUD and I graduated from the PACE program in 2016 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. This is why I knew I wanted to be a Mustang.
Why I Chose CBC
I’ve always had an appreciation for CBC because of the relationship/partnership that my family has had with the school. My family established the Ward Family Singers Scholarships at CBC. Over the years I had heard my family talk about heartwarming student success stories who utilized our scholarship and how genuine and commendable the faculty was. When it became time for me to choose a college, I was instantly drawn to seeing what CBC had to offer me.
After my initial meeting with Amy Reed, PACE Enrollment Director at the time, and a lot of praying, I knew that I wanted to be a Mustang! For most people, choosing which college they will attend can be one of the scariest times of their lives but for me it was coming together just as God had planned it. I knew it would be difficult at times juggling a full-time job, being a single mother and a full-time student, but I also knew that with the flexibility of the PACE program that it was possible. I was able to go at my own speed and comfort level. During my time in the PACE program I even managed to find the time to buy my very first home.
My Favorite Part of the CBC Journey
One of my favorite experiences was the fabulous people that I met along the way. My professors went above and beyond to help in any way they could. They genuinely cared about my success in the program, it was almost like having my very own set of cheerleaders. The professors understood that most of the students had just left an 8-hour job and they were very understanding with any needs or concerns that we might have.
I formed some of the most amazing lifelong friendships that I value immensely. To this day, no matter how busy life gets we still find time to catch up with either a phone call or a lunch date. One memory that really stands out to me is during our graduation ceremony. Chad Linn, former PACE Director, presented me with the Greatest Contribution Award. I was not only in complete shock that I was chosen for this award, but I was also elated CBC had such kind words and praise directed towards me.
Prepping for my Career
CBC lead me to my career but more importantly my calling. When I first started the PACE program, I was working at a commercial insurance company and had been there for around 11 years. As my time at CBC progressed, I realized that I wanted to go a different employment route.
I wanted a job that was more fulfilling. A job where I could help serve others and try to implement faith, guidance and hope in the crazy world of business. After I graduated, I started praying that God would lead me to a job where I could use the business administration knowledge I gained and combine that with the God given talents that I already possessed.
Public Housing
I have been the Public Housing Manager for the Conway Housing Authority, a government income-based housing going on 3 years now. I truly believe that the good Lord lead me exactly where I’m suppose to be. In my line of work, I deal with daily challenges and heartbreaks. I manage our family site which consists of 92 apartments. I’m responsible for the business aspect of it by calculating residents’ rent, conducting re-certification appointments, helping stabilize families with zero income, attending Fair Housing and HUD training, and attending in state and out of state conferences for the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment, just to name a few of my job duties.
So, to say the least my business degree I received from CBC has helped me tremendously in navigating through ever changing world of government housing. My career also provides many rewarding experiences that I don’t believe I would really appreciate the way I do if it wasn’t for my love of Christ and the heart I have to serve others. During my attendance at CBC I had the opportunity to understand how much the world around us needs more Christian people that want to make a difference in the business world.
What CBC Means to Me
This is a tough question for me to answer. Reflecting on my time as a student and comparing it to my life now, CBC has changed my life for the better and changed my outlook on the world. Not only did I learn a vast amount of knowledge regarding business administration, I also learned real life lessons as a student in the PACE program. My time at CBC helped strengthen and improve my life as a Christian.
I’ve been a church going girl my whole life and though I had a pretty good sense of knowledge about the bible…. well that is until I took Life of Christ and Life of Paul classes. I learned so much in those two classes. To this day I still have a huge appreciation towards Paul and the life that he led. CBC has also helped grow my faith. As the faculty continuously encouraged students to grow in their faith, you couldn’t help but get inspired and dig deeper into your own walk with God.
CBC embodies compassion, integrity, camaraderie, sense of warmth, faith and a solid foundation just to name a few. So, to answer the question what does CBC mean to me? A sense of gratitude for all that CBC has given me: an education, life lessons, lifelong friendships, a closer walk with God and a realization that even though I may only be one person in the giant world, there are still numerous ways I can leave my Godly imprint on the work I do every day.
My Next Step
I am currently enrolled in online classes at Liberty University and pursuing my MBA with a concentration in Strategic Management.
Contact Us
Are you looking to make a difference in the business world for Christ and prepare for graduate school like Tabitha?
Central Baptist College can help!
Schedule a meeting with an Admissions representative by visiting cbc.edu/whyCBC.
Due the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Central Baptist College campus is currently closed to visitors. However, you can still have a virtual campus visit experience by going to cbc.edu/visit.