by Shelby Bowman ’26
When Susan “Evie” Hubbard ’27 posted a TikTok about life as a single parent earning her degree at Wilson College, she didn’t expect it to go viral. With over 128,000 likes and one million views, her story is not only inspiring other single mothers but also bringing new students to campus.
“TikTok has connected me to a community of single mothers who have a great interest in programs like Wilson’s,” she said. “In fact, my best friend, Grace Damato ’26, came to Wilson because she saw my TikTok, and now our sons are best friends.”
Although her TikTok account became an extension of her Wilson experience, she says the viral attention is just a bonus. The real story is how Wilson’s Single Parent Scholar Program has helped her balance parenting and education while thriving in both roles.
Since 1996, the Single Parent Scholar Program (formerly the Women with Children Program) has provided student parents with the unique opportunity to pursue a bachelor’s degree while living on campus with their children. The program also offers the support the student parents need as they pursue an education while balancing the responsibilities of parenting.
“The opportunity to work toward my degree full-time while also being offered free childcare and housing was initially what attracted me to Wilson,” said Hubbard. “Before I attended Wilson, I worked two jobs and attended college part-time. The Single Parent Scholar Program offered free childcare and housing, two major expenses for me.”
Now, Hubbard lives on Wilson’s campus with her four-year-old son, EJ, who even goes to class with her when he does not have school. “I hope he gains a love of learning during our time here,” she said. “The best memories I have on campus with him are from when I’m doing homework, and then he pulls out his toy laptop and tells me that he’s going to do homework too.”
Besides “studying” with his mom, EJ enjoys visiting the horses at the equestrian center, playing with the neighbor’s dog, and snacking on the dino nuggets at The Café at Sarah’s.
Susan “Evie” Hubbard ’27 and Grace Damato ’26 with their sons.
When she and her son are not studying, Hubbard is an active member of the Wilson community, volunteering at Sarah’s Cupboard, serving as vice president of the Debate Club, secretary of the Line Dancing Club, and a member of Wilson’s chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honor society. She also finds
time to tutor in social science and writing.
“Wilson has allowed me to thrive in and out of class,” said Hubbard, who is majoring in political science with minors in applied ethics and criminal justice. After graduation, she plans to work as a paralegal while attending law school part-time, with the goal of specializing in family law and helping survivors of domestic abuse. Her academic record speaks for itself, as she has made the Dean’s List every semester.
“My mom always used to tell me that ‘it wasn’t about the cards you were dealt; it was what you did with them.’ I hope that EJ continues to see me thriving in the face of adversity and learns that he is limited only by his own mindset.”
