ASPSF Day of Giving raises $61K as 453 Single Parents Receive Spring Scholarship

The Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund (ASPSF) exceeded its fundraising goal during its second annual Day of Giving on March 20, raising $61,000 to support single parents pursuing higher education. This year’s campaign awarded $659,600 in scholarships to 453 students across 69 Arkansas counties, helping them stay enrolled in college or trade school while supporting their families. The scholarships, up to $1,600 per semester, cover essential expenses like childcare, transportation, housing, and school-related costs. Recipients in northern Arkansas received $22,400 in aid, including $10,000 distributed to seven students in Baxter County, such as Erin Denmark, who is studying psychology at Arkansas State University to become a certified therapist. Denmark called the scholarship a source of encouragement, saying it reminded her that her circumstances do not limit her future. In Fulton County, Rachel Thompson received $1,200 to study nursing at Ozarka College, aiming to become a traveling registered nurse. She noted how her dedication to education inspires her teenage sons, who often follow her example by completing their homework. Similarly, Izard County’s Terramissia Smith, a nursing student at Ozarka College, received $4,800, allowing her to stay enrolled full-time while pursuing her goal of becoming a registered nurse. Sharp County distributed $6,400 to four recipients, including Laken Hollis, a health science major at Ozarka College planning a career in nursing. Hollis expressed gratitude for the financial support, which she described as a safety net easing the burden of single parenthood. ASPSF’s scholarships are paired with support services to help students balance school, work, and parenting. Jenn Morehead, a representative for ASPSF, stated that the Day of Giving demonstrated Arkansans’ belief in single parents’ determination to build better futures. The campaign raised nearly twice as much as last year, aligning with National Single Parent Day and uniting donors, volunteers, and community partners to invest in student success.