Story by Lisa Sollie
Aileen Charles has never needed a practical reason to take on a challenge.
That mindset has taken the recent University of West Alabama finance graduate from kicking footballs at Northridge High School in Tuscaloosa to collegiate soccer and, most recently, preparing to hike the 2,600-mile Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) this summer.
Charles tends to choose the unconventional route. When her high school needed a kicker, she stepped up. When she enrolled at UWA as a soccer recruit, she chose鈥攁t her father鈥檚 advice鈥攖o pursue a rigorous major. She majored in finance not to prepare for a specific career, but to gain knowledge she could carry throughout life.
Her hard work in the classroom paid off when she was presented the Ralph M. Lyon Award, the University鈥檚 top graduating student award during May 8 commencement exercises. The Ralph M. Lyon Award for Academic Excellence is given to the student with the most outstanding scholastic record among all students receiving baccalaureate degrees at UWA since the preceding commencement. Presented by Interim Provost Dr. Amy Jones, the award is named in honor of Dr. Ralph M. Lyon, a longtime professor, and administrator at the University.
Now, her sights are set even higher.
Charles wants to fly.
鈥淚 thought about going into the military or flight school directly from high school,鈥� she said, 鈥渂ut when I was recruited to UWA, I took the opportunity because I realized not everyone has an opportunity to play a sport they love on a collegiate level. I鈥檓 glad I did. It wasn鈥檛 far away and felt like home the first time I came to campus.鈥�
Aviation has interested Charles since childhood. Although she hasn鈥檛 decided whether to enlist or pursue Auburn University鈥檚 aviation program, she said her time hiking the Pacific Crest Trail will give her plenty of time to think about what comes next.
Often considered the West Coast equivalent of the Appalachian Trail, the PCT begins near the Mexican border in Campo, California, stretching through California, Oregon, and Washington before ending at the Canadian border.
Charles said a friend asked her if she wanted to go, and she didn鈥檛 need much convincing to say yes.
Researching the trail for about a year, Charles purchased the gear she would need. One major purchase鈥攁 satellite phone鈥攚as gifted to her by her mother at Christmas.
鈥淲hile my parents are a little nervous about the trip,鈥� she said, 鈥渢hey are also excited because they know I鈥檝e never really had a lot of free time over the summers before, between working, playing soccer and workouts. This is the first time I鈥檝e had time to do something just for me that I wanted to do, so they鈥檝e been very supportive.鈥�
Charles knows her path may not look like anyone else鈥檚, but that has never bothered her. This summer, she鈥檒l head west and start walking, ready to see where the trail leads next.