05 Jan 2026 ASPSF Elects five board members, new president
LITTLE ROCK — Statewide nonprofit Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund (ASPSF) has announced new leadership for its 2026 Board of Directors. Maret Cahill Wicks of Arvest Bank will lead the nonprofit’s 15-member Board of Directors in 2026.
At the Dec. 4 meeting, the Board elected five new officers to serve three-year terms:
- Aaron Brooks, Bank OZK
- KC Capers, Riceland Foods
- Jason Hansen, Conway Corp.
- Patrick Presley, Simmons Bank
- Christy Valentine, Hytrol Conveyor Co.
Additionally, the Board elected Maret Cahill Wicks of Arvest Bank as Board President for a two-year term. She follows Sunshine Bartlett also of Arvest Bank, who steps into the Past-President role.
“I’m honored to serve as Board President and to work alongside such a passionate and dedicated group of leaders,” Cahill Wicks said. “ASPSF plays a critical role in strengthening Arkansas families and communities, and I’m excited to help advance our mission so more single parents can complete their education and build brighter futures for their children.”
The new leadership follows a year of growth for the statewide nonprofit ASPSF is dedicated to ending single parent poverty through higher education. Since 1990, ASPSF has awarded more than $50 million in scholarships and provided services that empower single parents to complete their education and pursue higher-paying careers. With the help of volunteers and community support, ASPSF creates multigenerational change, transforming lives for both single parents and their children. Learn more at aspsf.org.
ASPSF. In 2025, the organization awarded nearly 1,400 scholarships totaling $1.7 million, compared to 832 scholarships totaling $1.3 million in 2024. ASPSF’s scholarship program helps single parents across the state pursue higher education and move toward economic stability.
ASPSF is thankful to 2025 Past-President Betsy Baker and Member Mike Weaver who have completed two, three-year terms of Board service, as well as Member Sharmane Andrews, who served two years. Thank you for your dedication to empowering single parent families in Arkansas.
“Our nonprofit is entering an exciting season of growth and impact, and I’m incredibly grateful for the leadership and expertise these new Board members bring,” ASPSF CEO Jenn Morehead said. “With a 15-member Board that reflects a deep commitment to education, equity, and community, we are well positioned to continue breaking cycles of single parent poverty across Arkansas.”
Board Member Highlights:
- Aaron Brooks (Little Rock) is General Counsel – Corporate Governance for Bank OZK. A longtime ASPSF volunteer, he is active in Central Arkansas and serves on the Leaders Council for the Legal Services Corporation. He is also a board member and vice chair of the Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation. He shared: “I’m honored to join the board, and it was an easy decision to support this wonderful organization in a new capacity.”
- Maret Cahill Wicks (Conway) is Senior Vice President and Community Marketing Manager at Arvest Bank. She has served on the ASPSF Board since 2022, contributing to the organization’s 2022 strategic plan and serving on both the operations and finance committees.
- KC Capers (Maumelle) is Senior Manager for Training and Culture at Riceland Foods and a leadership consultant, transformational speaker, and coach. A veteran raised by his grandmother in a single parent household, Capers believes passionately in empowering single parent families through opportunity and education. He shared: “I have dedicated my career to building environments where people don’t merely survive; they genuinely thrive. This expertise directly serves ASPSF’s mission because transformational organizations are built by transformational people.”
- Jason Hansen (Conway) is Chief Technology Officer for Conway Corp. He also serves on the board of the Arkansas Cable Telecommunications Association and on the executive committee of Independent Living Services Inc. He shared: “I am impressed by ASPSF’s focus on empowering low-income single parents, even those going into skilled trades. My background in technology, I hope, positions me to help ASPSF advance its mission by leveraging systems, tools, and innovation to increase efficiency, expand impact, and better support the families the organization serves.”
- Patrick Presley (North Little Rock) Community Affairs Officer, Risk Management (State of Arkansas) for Simmons Bank. His nonprofit background includes development roles with Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Arkansas, the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation, and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He shared: “I’ve worked with many nonprofits over the years, and ASPSF distinguished itself quickly and made an impression. I have only had fantastic experiences in the workshops we have done together over the years. I look forward to meeting everyone and hitting the ground running in January.”
- Christy Valentine (Jonesboro) is Manager of Academic & Philanthropic Programs at Hytrol Conveyor Co. Inc. Her experience spans nonprofit and higher education roles with Girls Inc., Soulsville Foundation, and Arkansas State University. She shared: “As a single mother who was raised by a single mother, I understand the critical importance of a strong support network. ASPSF removes barriers and provides invaluable resources that help parents achieve their educational goals and build a better future for their families. Through my work in philanthropy, I have developed expertise in strategic fundraising, and I am honored and excited to contribute those skills to an organization I am deeply passionate about.”
For more information, visit aspsf.org or contact Jen Lawrence at [email protected] or call 501.550.6304.
