Her mom inspired her to attend the same local college—check out this Owens Cross Roads native's story now

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Ellie and her parents in their home — Ellie and her parents have loved their UNA experience. (Lacey Spear / Hville Blast)

Like mother like daughter—Ellie is happily following in her mother’s footsteps by attending the same local college.

Read on to learn why she decided to study Architectural Design at the University of North Alabama and get a sneak peek into her unique college experience.

The Hawkins are a close-knit family

Ellie and family playing game together — The Hawkins love family game nights. (Lacey Spear / Hville Blast)

Ellie’s parents, Troy and Yvette, met in Huntsville at the perfect time. Yvette caught Troy’s eye at his going away party hosted by their local church right before he moved to Alaska.

Later, when Troy came home for the holidays, the two began dating and eventually got married and lived in Alaska for several years. They’re now settled in Owens Cross Roads in Yvette’s parents’ former home and have three children—Abby, Ellie and Jacob.

The family loves playing games together and enjoying outdoor activities, such as gardening, camping and hiking.

Close to home, but not too close

Ellie smiling with photo of her younger self — At UNA, Ellie can spread her wings without being too far from home. (Lacey Spear / Hville Blast)

Troy and Yvette both work in the Huntsville area. Troy is a Test Engineer for the U.S. Army, and Yvette is a Nurse Educator at Huntsville Hospital.

Several years ago, Yvette walked across the stage at UNA to receive her Masters of Nursing. But, she wasn’t the only one who accomplished a significant milestone that weekend.

While attending her mom’s graduation, Ellie fell in love with the UNA campus and knew she had found her future home away from home.

“I immediately knew UNA was the school for me. The campus was so pretty and felt like home. I had only visited large universities before, and I loved the smaller school atmosphere.”
Ellie Hawkins

UNA is only an hour and a half away, making it the perfect location for Huntsville natives. Apply today.

UNA is the perfect size + location

Ellie and parents on UNA's campus — UNA has a family-oriented campus. (UNA)

Not only is UNA the ideal mid-sized university, but it’s also in an ideal location for Huntsville-area natives.

“UNA is a great fit for somebody in Huntsville. If there’s an emergency, we can get there quickly to help her. But she still gets to have a real college experience and can come visit us on the weekends.”
Yvette Hawkins

Ellie loves exploring Florence and enjoys walking along the quaint downtown streets with her friends. Their favorite spots are Fiesta—a fun, Mexican restaurant that doubles as a karaoke bar—and Charlie’s—a Tuscumbia coffee shop that specializes in cold foam brews.

“Florence is a city but feels like a small town—and that’s what I like about it. It’s such a safe area, and we feel comfortable having her there.”
Troy Hawkins

Recently, the Hawkins attended the UNA family weekend and had such a fun time. Check it out.