THELMA MOTON
CEO/FOUNDER
Thelma Moton is originally from Twin Groves, Arkansas, and is the CEO/Founder of Choosing to Excel. Her vision for C2E is to see the lives of youth be positively influenced and impacted through programs and partnerships in the community. Her motivating force is to assist and encourage youth and families to define their end goal and to challenge and equip them with life sustaining skills. Thelma believes that all young people and families, no matter their circumstances, need a haven and deserve to know that “they matter.” She constantly encourages those who are going through challenges to Keep The End In Mind.
PENNY McCRAY
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Penny McCray grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas and started as an Administrative Assistant at Choosing to Excel in 2007. She was then promoted to Program Administrator, a title she still holds today. As Program Administrator, Penny oversees all financial obligations of the organization such as account payables, accounts receivables, audits, payroll, budgets, and more. She also serves as a GEMS Director where she conducts weekly meetings with young ladies to encourage them to be the best version of themselves. Penny is passionate about helping young women strive for optimal health through presentations, activities, and games. Her favorite part of her job is influencing youth to make better life choices.
SKYLAR LONG
DIRECTOR OF MENTORS
Skylar Long grew up in Goshen, Indiana and now calls Arkansas home. She works for Choosing to Excel as a Mentor Director, recruiting and training mentors and pairing them up with students. She believes it is so fulfilling working for an organization that truly is like a compass for youth, helping them to navigate through life. Her favorite part of the job is to see a student shining from the inside out because the staff and mentors at C2E believed in them, supported them, and advocated on their behalf.
DANI JAMES
GRANT COMPLIANCE OFFICER
Dani James is from Conway, Arkansas and has worked for Choosing to Excel since 2011. Dani is the Grant Compliance Officer and is responsible for the implementation of grants while providing guidance on program contractual requirements. Her favorite part of her job is working with our staff on events, working alongside our contractuals, and knowing that we are changing lives one life at a time on a daily basis.
PRINCESS JOHNSON
PROGRAM DIRECTOR/FACILITATOR
Princess Johnson was born in California and raised in Arkansas. She has a Bachelor's of Science in Psychology and has been a Program Director for Choosing to Excel since 2013. Princess' favorite thing about her job is having the opportunity to pour into the lives of the students. She gets to play a small role in their lives, which she considers a gift and privilege. The purpose of her job is to first build a relationship with them and then help educate them on the definitions and benefits of optimal health, risk avoidance, and healthy decision making.
BIJOUX PIGHEE
PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF HFA
Bijoux Pighee is from Little Rock, Arkansas and began volunteering with Choosing to Excel's Girls Eagerly Maintaining High Standards (GEMS) and Leadership Team programs in 2013. Bijoux believes wholeheartedly that with consistency, respect, and common goals, C2E can help families achieve better outcomes.
CANDIE CORONA
FAMILY SUPPORT SPECIALIST
Candie Corona is from Fort Worth, Texas and has a Bachelor's in World Language. She is a Family Support Specialist and provides families with curriculum about their child’s development, their emotional needs and how to meet them, new skills, and educates parents on positive parenting practices. Choosing to Excel strives to be family centered and complete assessments with caregiver and baby at least every 6 months. About 80% of the moms Candie works with are non-English speakers, therefore she is able to provide interpreting and translation services at no cost to the moms. Candie loves working with parents, especially encouraging and connecting moms to community resources in the area, and feels working with moms has been one of the best experiences of her career in nonprofit work.
ABBIGAIL CASTRO
FAMILY SUPPORT SPECIALIST
Abbigail Castro is originally from Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada. She has a Bachelor's of Science in Psychology with a Minor in Family and Consumer Sciences. As a Family Support Specialist , she works with pregnant and parenting families of babies aged 0-3. I provide parenting skills, life skills, community referrals, and child development education to supplement their familial journey. Her favorite part of her job is helping new parents navigate the peaks and valleys of caring for children while also trying to navigate their new identities as parents. She loves encouraging the strengths that the youth already have along the way and building them up for success in all aspects of their lives, not just as parents.
SHAMENIA WEST
FAMILY SUPPORT SPECIALIST
Shamenia West is from Little Rock, AR. She was hired in 2022 as a Family Support Specialist. She works closely with pregnant and parenting families of babies aged 0-3 and provides parenting skills, life skills, community referrals, and child development education to supplement their familial journey.
JASMINE HULLUM-MHOON
PROGRAM DIRECTOR/FACILITATOR
Jasmine Hullum-Mhoon is from McGehee, Arkansas, and started working as a Program Director and Facilitator with Choosing to Excel in 2018. She has a Bachelor's in Health Sciences that she obtained from the University of Central Arkansas and has a history of working in Education since 2011. As a Program Director and Facilitator, Jasmine travels to various locations to teach life skills to students from 7th to 12th grade, conduct G.E.M.S, a small girls' lunch club available to girls in middle and jr. high school, and lead Choosing to Excel’s Leadership Team, who serves as Jr. Leaders throughout Arkansas. Her goal as a leader is to provide tools, skills, resources, quality time, and support to as many children as possible, all while having a little fun.