Scholar Spotlight: Tina Roberts-Ballard

At age 52, Tina Roberts-Ballard’s life isn’t winding down. She’s just getting started! 

After earning her GED in April 2025, Tina couldn’t stop thinking about her dream of becoming a cosmetologist. While attending a job fair, Tina met David Hesson, Director of Programs at The Chatfield Edge. “He told me all about Chatfield and how they could help me further my education.” Tina had worked as a school bus driver for 22 years, “but I always felt like I was missing something by not working in cosmetology.” She enjoyed doing hair and makeup for people she knew, like the girls in her neighborhood when they were going to prom, but never professionally. 

After meeting David at the job fair, Tina decided to call him to learn more about how The Chatfield Edge might help her. “He was so nice. He explained everything to me and encouraged me to apply for a scholarship from The Chatfield Edge so I wouldn’t have to go into debt. We stayed in touch via email and phone and met in person a couple of times.” 

When Tina needed to write an essay to apply for school and for the scholarship, “David encouraged me to write from my heart.” Thanks to his support and positive attitude, Tina was accepted into Empire Beauty School and received a scholarship from The Chatfield Edge which paid for part of her education and prevented her from going into debt. Just as valuable, she says, was David’s positivity. “He wouldn’t let me say anything negative about myself and told me I could do anything I wanted to do. My age didn’t matter. His encouragement really made a difference!” 

Tina will graduate from Empire in June 2026, then plans to work in a salon for six months before taking a test to enable her to teach cosmetology. “I like helping people, and the teachers at Empire have encouraged me to join them as a teacher there.” Along with teaching, she also plans to work part-time as a cosmetologist in a salon. 

Tina’s advice to others who have dreams of education and a career they love is this: “I would tell them to just go for it. Do what your heart desires. Don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t do it. And if you need help, contact David and apply for a scholarship at Chatfield Edge because they are great.”

If you or someone you know is a non-traditional or first-generation student looking to further your goals through college, trade school, or a certificate program, contact David Hesson at david.hesson@chatfieldedge.org or 513-875-3956. The Chatfield Edge is here to help you find your path to fulfilling your life goals through education.