Single Parent Scholarship Fund Taking Applications

The Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund (ASPSF) is now accepting scholarship appli‐cations for the Spring 2023 se‐mester at aspsf.org/applynow. The deadline to apply is Oct. 15. ASPSF awards scholarships up to $1,200 to eligible single par‐ents living in Arkansas who are attending college or obtaining technical training. The fund as‐sists both part-time and full-time single parent students pursuing postsecondary education, includ‐ing 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 and their staff have given me a sense of hope and en‐couragement,” said University of Arkansas at Monticello social work major Samantha Ellis. “They truly believe in me. It makes the world of difference when you have somebody in the stands rooting for you, as ASPSF has done for me. They have also helped me financially with tu‐ition, the cost of books, and sup‐plies needed. All of their help will allow me to build a better future for my children and me.” Plus, the scholarships are flexi‐ble. 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, util‐ities, etc. ASPSF also provides personal support to our recipients, such as workshops — including 168 across the state last year — and mentoring to help students be jobready after they obtain their de‐gree. Staff and supporters walk alongside ASPSF recipients, sup‐porting them through school to graduation and into sustainable employment with family-support‐ing wages. 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 percent o...