Category: Student Spotlight

12/13/22

Single mom returns to school to give back to Boone County

Ferrin C. (left) receives her Fall 2022 scholarship from Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund Program Manager Kim Paul-Williams. For the past seven years, Ferrin C. has worked in Boone County’s nonprofit field, supporting family development programs to help low-income families find self-reliance. However, she found herself wanting to do more for her clients and her 10-year-old son, Jamon. She realized furthering her education would advance her career and benefit her... Read More
Posted by Jen Para at 12/13/22
Student Spotlight Student of the Month
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11/14/22

ASPSF ‘has inspired me never to doubt myself,’ single dad says

Like many Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund recipients, William Pontius was nervous when he first applied to college. “I questioned myself if I could genuinely handle school while raising my son,” he said. “Regardless of how I felt, I knew I had to try.” And his hard work paid off! William graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Central Arkansas in May with nearly all A’s. He’s... Read More
Posted by Jen Para at 11/14/22
Student Spotlight Student Success Story Student of the Month
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11/9/22

ASPSF single parents, staff share what Veterans Day means to them

In honor of Veterans Day, Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund recognizes all the military servicemen and women who have sacrificed so much for our country. You have our sincere appreciation and gratitude. We’re especially proud of the many ASPSF scholarship recipients, staff members, board members, volunteers, and their family members who have served or are actively serving. We invited some of them to share their experiences and tell us what Veterans Day means to them. ... Read More
at 11/9/22
Staff Spotlight Student Spotlight
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10/11/22

Single parent scholar helps invent life-changing device for professor’s father

Lisa James (center), stands with her two children, Macy and Brett.    When Lisa James and her team presented a device to help their professor’s father hug again, she had no idea it would be so well-received. The video of a man hugging his grandson for the first time in eight years went viral after Lisa’s Arkansas State University occupational therapy professor shared it on Facebook. Lisa said she and her teammates cried when they saw the video. “To... Read More
Posted by Jen Para at 10/11/22
Student Spotlight Student of the Month
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9/2/22

Single mom studies early childhood education to create a brighter future for her family and community

Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund September 2022 Student of the Month Gabrielle Hunter wholeheartedly believes children are our future. “We have to be supportive and encourage them to work hard and strive for the best, to never give up,” she said. “We have to show them it’s true you can be whatever you want to be.” Gabrielle has been working with children for over nine years and is currently employed at Clarendon ABC preschool as a... Read More
at 9/2/22
Student Spotlight Student of the Month
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8/9/22

Single dad ‘trying to change the family norm’ by going to college

Kendrick Jackson is Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund's Student of the Month for August 2022. Since starting his higher education journey, he and his daughters, Keniya and Kimmorah, have GPA competitions.  Single father Kendrick Jackson found himself sitting at home collecting disability checks to support his daughters, Keniya and Kimmorah. He had fainted at his factory job after having heart surgery and couldn’t return. Kendrick’s coworkers had... Read More
at 8/9/22
Student Spotlight Student of the Month
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7/19/22

ASPSF supports single mom’s dream of becoming an airline pilot

Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship's Student of the Month for July is Brandy Manning (left). She has a daughter and is pursing her bachelor's degree in aviation at Henderson State University.  Brandy Manning loves to fly.  “Being in the air is an incredible feeling,” she said. With the help of Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund, Brandy is inching closer to achieving her goal of becoming an airline pilot. In addition to tuition and fees at ... Read More
at 7/19/22
Student Spotlight Student of the Month
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7/5/22

Little Rock single mother shows her three children ‘it’s never too late’ to go back to school

Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund Scholarship recipient Toccara Pearson (back) inspires her family to work hard for their goals. Few parents can say they graduated at the same time as their children, but single mom Toccara Pearson has done it twice! In May 2019, Toccara completed her associate degree from the University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College as her oldest daughter, To’Kira, graduated high school. In May 2022, Toccara received her... Read More
at 7/5/22
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6/17/22

Single dads reflect on their favorite aspect of fatherhood

When people hear the term single parent, they typically picture a mom, but there are thousands of single dads in Arkansas raising kids, working, facing hardships, and — in the case of the single fathers we serve — going to school. For Father’s Day, Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund reached out to our single dads, asking them to share their favorite thing about fatherhood.  Here are their answers! “My favorite thing about being a father is... Read More
at 6/17/22
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6/7/22

ASPSF recipient shows her sons to never give up their dreams

Chelsea Phillips stands with her sons Tyler, left, and JaKayden. Chelsea is Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund's Student of The Month for June 2022.  At her May graduation ceremony, Chelsea Phillips received two surprises. The first was receiving the Florence Nightingale Award, which is South Arkansas Community College Betty Owen School of Practical Nursing’s highest honor. It recognizes a nursing student who goes above and beyond in the program to... Read More
Posted by Jen Para at 6/7/22
Student Spotlight
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