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<p>DALLAS &#8212; Asia Thompson has a story to tell and she&#8217;ll tell it to Congress on Thursday.</p><p>Thompson, 22, is a junior English/creative writing major at Misericordia University. She is able to attend college through Misericordia&#8217;s Ruth Matthews Bourger Women With Children Program, one of only eight programs in the U.S. that empowers economically-disadvantaged single mothers by providing the opportunity to complete a college degree, thereby creating brighter futures for themselves and their children.</p><p>Thompson has two children, ages 5 and 4. She said if it weren&#8217;t for the Women With Children program, she would not be able to afford college and would have little chance of improving life for herself and her kids.</p><p>She is one of just seven college students across the U.S. selected to address Congress and meet with congressional sub-committees about the need for programs like the one at Misericordia.</p><p>&#8220;I hope to be able to debunk the stigma attached to women in situations like my own,&#8221; Thompson said. &#8220;I want to tell Congress that people who receive benefits, like food stamps, really do want to improve themselves. If it weren&#8217;t for the Women With Children program, I wouldn&#8217;t be able to feed my children, pay my bills and get a college education.&#8221;</p><p>Katherine Pohlidal, director of the Women With Children Program at Misericordia, said the program started in 2000 by Sr. Jean Messaros, a Sister of Mercy and vice president of Mission Integration, and has grown significantly. Two buildings house participants in the program &#8212; the Pauly Friedman House and the Rasmussen House. To date, there are 20 graduates of the program.</p><p>Paul Krzywicki, assistant director of marketing and communications at Misericordia, said the program will expand to a third house for the 2016-17 academic year so additional single women with children will have an opportunity to realize their dream of earning a college degree.</p><p>Pohlidal said there are 10 families currently in the program &#8212; 10 moms and 12 children. The housing costs are free to the participants and the tuition is each student&#8217;s responsibility. Scholarships are available to help with tuition.</p><p>Thompson said the program has allowed her to provide a stable and safe environment for her and her children so she can focus on her studies without worry.</p><p>She and the other six participants will spend Thursday on Capitol Hill, meeting with various legislators and attending sub-committee meetings with members of Congress.</p><p>Thompson feels this is a great opportunity for her and the others.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s important because I have a story to tell that brings home the reasons why these programs are important,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Before I entered this program, I was very young. By the time I was 18, I already had two children. It&#8217;s difficult to take care of them, pay rent and bills and assume the responsibilities of having a family.&#8221;</p><p>Thompson knew she had to do something to better herself so she could provide a better life for her kids.</p><p>She searched the Internet for programs that could help her and found the Women With Children program at Misericordia, falling in love with the campus when she visited.</p><p>&#8220;This program has improved us,&#8221; she said. &#8220;My children have bloomed; they have become better learners and they have become more sociable.&#8221;</p><p>Thompson&#8217;s career goal is to get her degree and pursue a Ph.D. A 4.0 student, she wants to one day be a college professor. Thompson is a 4.0 student.</p><p>According to information provided by Misericordia, Thompson was in an abusive relationship and left her boyfriend to seek a better life for her and her children.</p><p>While in Washington, D.C., Thompson and Pohlidal will be guests of the Center for American Progress, a think tank and lobbying group.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Asia Thompson talks with Katherine Pohlidal at the Rasmussen House at Misericordia University. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_TTL100615Asia-Thompson-11.jpg</photo0><caption0>Asia Thompson talks with Katherine Pohlidal at the Rasmussen House at Misericordia University. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_TTL100615Asia-Thompson-21.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Asia Thompson picks tomatoes from the garden at the Rasmussen House on the Misericordia University campus. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_TTL100615Asia-Thompson-21.jpg</photo1><caption1>Asia Thompson picks tomatoes from the garden at the Rasmussen House on the Misericordia University campus. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_TTL100615Asia-Thompson-31.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Asia Thompson talks with Katherine Pohlidal while picking kale at the Rasmussen House garden at Misericordia University. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_TTL100615Asia-Thompson-31.jpg</photo2><caption2>Asia Thompson talks with Katherine Pohlidal while picking kale at the Rasmussen House garden at Misericordia University. </caption2><photoCredit2>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Misericordia student Asia Thompson to address Congress and will encourage funding for social service programs