25 Oct 2021 White County Single Parent Scholarship Fund awards fall scholarships

Posted at 6:07 PMh in News by

SEARCY — The White County Single Parent Scholarship Fund, Inc. (WCSPSF) recently awarded its fall scholarships at a presentation ceremony in Spring Park. Seven scholarships with a combined value of $6,250 were awarded. Since its inception in 1999, WCSPSF has given 727 scholarships with a combined value of $460,324. 

“We award scholarships to single parents of minor children who are pursuing post-secondary education in an effort to provide a better life for themselves and their children,” said Dan Newsom, executive director of the WCSPSF. 

Ariel Lackey received the Choate Law Firm Scholarship (from left); Dakota Davis, Wild Sweet Williams Bakery Scholarship; Edith Evans, Guns Plus/David Ratley Memorial Scholarship; Savannah Steward, Hawley Family Foundation Scholarship; Deborah Howard, Betty “Nanga” Martin Scholarship; Valerie Hartwick, White County Community Foundation Scholarship; Nicole Reid, Pulliam Family Scholarship; and, Dan Newsom, executive director of the White County Single Parent Scholarship Fund, Inc.

Because of COVID-19, fewer applicants applied in the fall, but Newsom is hopeful that number will increase before spring 2022 scholarships are awarded. The deadline for applying for those monies is Jan. 7.

The Scholarship Fund’s mission is “providing hope and changing lives through education.” To qualify, a single parent must have minor children, be a resident of White County, possess a high school education through graduation or GED, and must be pursuing a post-secondary education that will lead to skilled employment. Students may apply every semester until they finish their degree and must maintain a 2.0 GPA while continuing to meet the other requirements.

The following businesses, families, and foundations sponsored WCSPSF, Inc. for the fall semester: Guns Plus (Presenting Sponsor), Hawley Family Foundation, Ken and Jean Pulliam, Choate Law Firm, White County Community Foundation, Wild Sweet Williams, Family of Betty “Nanga” Martin, Centennial Bank, First Community Bank, First Security Bank, Simmons Bank, Searcy Rotary Club, Loyal and Sandy Crawford, Colton’s Steakhouse, Sonic, Eaton Corporation, Walmart Endowment, Louise Beebe Endowment, Larry and Molly Kircher Endowment, Billy and Wanda Emde Endowment, and the United Way of White County. Contributing corporate sponsors were Bobby T’s and Harps.

For information, contact Executive Director Dan Newsom at 501.230.2414 or find applications at [email protected].