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Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund (ASPSF) congratulates the Spring 2025 scholarship recipients from the counties of Clay, Craighead, Greene, Lawrence, Mississippi, Poinsett, and Randolph in Northeast Arkansas.
Thanks to the support of local donors and state funding, ASPSF awarded scholarships totaling over $137,000 to 97 single parents pursuing associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and skilled-trade certificates. The single parents were honored at an awards ceremony at St. Bernards Auditorium in Jonesboro on March 9.
Local ASPSF volunteers Amelia Robinson, Audrey Lee, Kimber Boone, Jennifer Salo, Shana Pierce, and Sherri Harp assisted at the March 9 event. Additional guest volunteers included Coach C.C. Smith (The Academies at Jonesboro High School), Davida Brown, Heaven Ray (Academies of West Memphis High School), Kamaya Smith (Annie Camp Junior High), Keisha Coleman (Annie Camp Junior High), Keilen McCuiston (Annie Camp Junior High), Kevin Creekmore, Mikayla Cannon (Nettleton High School), Samuel Creekmore, and Tyler Creekmore (Valley View High School).
ASPSF would like to thank St. Bernards Auditorium for lending the use of its venue for the ceremony as well as Andy’s Frozen Custard of Jonesboro for donating the custard for an ice cream sundae social at the event. A special thanks to Kelly Aaron from the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services for speaking at the event and providing information for the attendees.
ASPSF’s flexible scholarship of up to $1,600 helps low-income single parents pay for the biggest financial obstacles to obtaining a degree leading to a career with family-supporting wages. The monetary aid is paired with mentoring, financial instruction, and career coaching — the soft skill training that transforms students into sought-after employees.
“I am incredibly grateful for the support I have received from the Single Parent Scholarship Fund these past few years,” said Spring 2025 recipient China McChristian from Mississippi County who is enrolled at Arkansas State University. “This scholarship has alleviated financial burdens and allowed me to focus on my education and my role as a parent. This scholarship has truly made a difference in my life, and I hope to one day pay it forward to other recipients! Because of your support I will be receiving my bachelor’s degree in social work this May!”
Among the students receiving a single parent scholarship were: Ahyesha Steward, Alex Evans, Amy Morgan, Andrea Lacy, Avery Witt, Baylee Ford, Carrie Schoolfield, Chelsea Jackson, Cheyenne Godding, China McChristian, Claudeya Williams, Courtney Henry, Dawn Howard, Destiny Lewis, Dulce Chavez, Earnestine Lincoln, Faylon Ford, Jasmine James, Kadisha Patton, Kallen Howard, Keosha Gardner, Kia Anders, Kiauana Johnson, Kiffany Walker, Kishayla Garrett, Lauren Lovrien, Lydia Wolfe, Makesha Davis, Megan Thiesse, Micah Fisher, Mikela Jones, Misty Bennett, Nyeisha White, Phylicia Mitchell, Riley Williams, Niki Baker, Shacoria Lewis, Shakyra Anderson, Shanona Kitchens, Tamara Brown, Tara Williams, Teresa Miller, Terri Harris, and Tyesha Isom all of Craighead County.
Mississippi County students included Alicia Depriest, Alicia Williams, Constance DeBose, David Veasey, Destinee Ball, Erika Foyt, Ieasha Chappelle, India Love, Jacqelle Jones, Jalika White, Kalei Wimbley, Kavonna Bennett, Kayla Griffin, Krystal Therry, Lakesa Thomas, Madison Smith, Malory Ennis, Matricia Harvey, Mauricia Jones, Princess Vail, Quintryce Wells, Ressie Jackson, Rochele Harris, Jeana Blanchard, Sandra McDuffey, Sherita Yankaway, Teazia Jones, Tynese Newmy, Tyneshia Williams, and Xavia Allen.
From Poinsett County, April Schlotter, Harden Daniels, Jasmine Burns, Kanisha Lincoln, Natalie Traynom, Robin McDavis, Tammy Cooper, and Whitney Carter were awarded.
Antwanette Robinson, Dashwana Mason, Karla Caraway Qualls, Stephanie Rock, Tiffany Rone, and Victoria Heigle from Greene County were awarded.
Destiny Hall and Rachel Jordan from Clay County were also awarded as well as Dru Wilson and Hannarh Carter from Lawrence County. Felicia Graves and Summer Grider from Randolph County also received a scholarship plus additional students from various counties not named for privacy reasons.
For more information about Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund — which has awarded more than $55 million in scholarships across the state to single parents since 1990 — contact ASPSF Program Manager Carrie Allen at [email protected] or 870-345-4681.