GALION — A Galion High School graduate has finally crossed the finish line in her race to earn a college degree, but she had plenty of hurdles to clear along the way.

Amy Jenney, a single mom, not only earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Ashland University on May 4, but she also received the university’s first-ever Intern of the Year award on May 2, one of three finalists in the running.

“I knew I was a finalist, but I was surprised to find out I was the winner,” said Jenney, the youngest daughter of J.R. Jenney of Bucyrus and Kathy Jenney of Columbus. “However, I have worked extremely hard during my internship.”

The road to a college education hasn’t exactly been easy for Jenney, a single parent raising a five-year-old daughter, Mylah, while working full-time as a hair stylist at Virtue Salon in Clintonville.

Determination and dedication have paid off.

Jenney originally headed to Otterbein University after graduating from Galion in 2012 but ended up taking a year off from her studies when she became pregnant. She earned an associate degree from Columbus State in 2015, then enrolled at AU.

“The biggest thing for me is that it really took a ton of perseverance,” she said. “The highs were definitely high, and the lows were low. But it was so important for me to finish that degree despite getting pregnant.”

Although some of her courses could be taken at AU’s branch in Columbus, Jenney made countless commutes to the university’s main campus, which took an hour and a half one way. That also meant juggling her work schedule and making child care arrangements for Mylah.

When it was time to start her 14-week internship at Hilliard City Schools, Jenney’s days became even longer and more stressful.

“It was a whirlwind with student teaching five days a week,” Jenney said. “Many days I taught from 8 to 5 and then would go do hair from 5 to 10.”

Jenney admitted that the last five-and-a-half years have been trying but said her family has been there every step of the way.

“None of this would have been possible without my parents and the support of my family,” she said.

Now she has a teaching degree as an intervention specialist in K-12, just as she prepares to send Mylah off to kindergarten this fall.

“It was a haul, but I am so excited and so thankful to be done,” Jenney said. “It really hasn’t hit me yet. I just want to take a minute and enjoy the ‘now’ for now.”