22 Aug 2022 Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund accepting applications

Posted at 6:29 PMh in News by

Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund is 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. The fund assists both part-time and full-time single parent students pursuing associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and certificate programs. Last year, ASPSF awarded more than 1,400 scholarships totaling $1.4 million across the state.  

ASPSF recipient Victoria Pointer graduated from UCA with a BS in Health Services Administration.

“ASPSF has given me the chance to complete my degree and provide for my child,” said Victoria Gibbs, a scholarship recipient who studied health services administration at University of Central Arkansas.

The scholarships are flexible and recipients can use the discretionary money to pay for things that create the biggest barriers between them and their education, such as child care, gas, car repairs, laptops, utilities, etc. 

ASPSF recipient William Pontius graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business from UCA.

ASPSF also provides personal support to recipients, such as workshops (168 were offered across the state last year.) The organization also mentors students to 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,” said Jen Para, communications director.

ASPSF recipients attend a financial workshop conducted by Rhea Williams of First Security Bank in downtown Conway.

Eligibility guidelines are available at aspsf.org/eligibility. In addition to being a single parent in Arkansas, criteria includes 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 Daphne Scott at 501.588.2902 or [email protected].