Submitted information
For The Arkadelphian
ARKADELPHIA — On Aug. 15 Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund, or ASPSF, began accepting scholarship applications for the Spring 2023 semester at aspsf.org/applynow. The deadline to apply is Oct. 15.
ASPSF awards scholarships up to $1,200 to eligible single parents living in Arkansas who are attending college or obtaining technical training. We assist both part-time and full-time single parent students pursuing postsecondary education, including associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and certificate programs. Last year, ASPSF awarded more than 1,400 scholarships totaling $1.4 million across the state.
“I have been able to pay for child care during covid so I could continue to work and go to school, gas to get to and from school and work, pay my rent, help fix my car, and so much more because of funding. Each semester I am more and more thankful for the support of ASPSF!” said scholarship recipient Kristin Willet, an education major at Henderson State University.
Our scholarships are flexible! Single parents can use the discretionary money to pay for the simple things that create the biggest barriers between them and their education, such as child care, gas, car repairs, laptops, utilities, etc.
ASPSF is more than a check! We provide personal support to our recipients, such as workshops — including 168 across the state last year! — and mentoring to help students be job-ready after they obtain their degree. Our staff and supporters walk alongside our recipients, supporting them through school to graduation and into sustainable employment with family-supporting wages.
“There are people that care, and they really want to help you. I get an email from [Program Manager] Sandy four times a month. She’s checking on me; she’s given me ideas on where to apply for other scholarships. She really cares about the people that receive this scholarship,” said Jasandra Gil, a nursing major at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith.
Eligibility guidelines are available at aspsf.org/eligibility. In addition to being a single parent in Arkansas, criteria include having a GED or high school diploma, a 2.0 GPA, and a household income typically not more than 250% of Federal Poverty Guidelines.
For more information about ASPSF, please contact Program Manager Laura Lee Williard at (501) 762-0113 or lwilliard@aspsf.org.
About Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund: For 30 years, Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund has worked to create stronger, more educated, and more self-sufficient families. Through scholarships and services, ASPSF opens doors for low-income single parents, helping them pursue education, secure employment, and transform the future for their families. With the help of volunteers and community support, ASPSF creates multigenerational change, transforming lives for both single parents and their children. For information about scholarships, volunteer opportunities, and ways to give, visit www.aspsf.org.
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