Student Success Profile: Autrey Watkins
Autrey Watkins celebrating her graduation.
- First-generation college student
- Overcame significant challenges while paying for college on her own
- Graduated with honors from our Dental Hygiene program
Autrey Watkins
Autrey Watkins overcame a difficult childhood to find her passion and pursue a career dedicated to helping others. Her early years were full of uncertainty caused by her parents’ drug and alcohol abuse. The family struggled with poverty and moved often. Autrey says that while she was focused on surviving from day to day, she found refuge at school, where she had teachers who provided encouragement.
“From an early age, I knew that even if my home life was bad, I could always run away to school and throw my all into my studies. You might say it was a coping mechanism, but luckily it was a healthy one.”
As Autrey reached high school and continued to thrive in the classroom, she began focusing on dental hygiene for a career. Her inspiration came from seeing her mother struggle with the pain and discomfort of poor oral health due to drug abuse. Autrey chose to attend UC Blue Ash after learning about its dental hygiene program.
I know a couple of dental hygienists who graduated from the program, and they really loved it. They felt very prepared for the workforce. It’s a great program with great instructors, as well as affordable.
Autrey Watkins
Autrey Watkins working in the UC Blue Ash Dental Hygiene Clinic.
Autrey gave an inspiring speech on behalf of her fellow scholarship recipients at the 2025 UC Blue Ash Scholarship Luncheon.
Autrey credits her professors with helping develop her skills and knowledge, and she is grateful to our scholarship donors for providing the financial and emotional support that helped make college a reality.
She graduated with honors in Spring 2025 and launched her career as a dental hygienist. She also plans to continue her education with the goal of eventually returning to UC Blue Ash as a dental hygiene instructor.
“Believing in yourself, if you have no one else, is the way to success, it’s the way achieve your goals. If you believe you can do it, you’ve got it.”
Watch Autrey's full speech from our 2025 Scholarship Luncheon as she talked about overcoming a difficult childhood and staying focused on her goals. Her inspiring comments received a standing ovation from the audience. Credit: Andrea Beatty.
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