Ferrin C. (left) receives her Fall 2022 scholarship from Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund Program Manager Kim Paul-Williams.
For the past seven years, Ferrin C. has worked in Boone County’s nonprofit field, supporting family development programs to help low-income families find self-reliance.
However, she found herself wanting to do more for her clients and her 10-year-old son, Jamon. She realized furthering her education would advance her career and benefit her clients.
“I want to show my clients what they have the potential to do for themselves,” she said. “If I can do it, they can do it. Nothing has to be completed on strictly ‘traditional’ terms.”
At a Fall 2022 scholarship ceremony, Ferrin talks to recipients about the help they can receive from her employer, Ozark Opportunities Inc., a nonprofit that provides anti-poverty programs in north Arkansas.
So Ferrin decided to return to school this fall to earn a bachelor’s in sociology from Arkansas State University, several years after graduating with associate degrees from North Arkansas College.
It hasn’t been an easy adjustment balancing school, work, and caring for her son and grandfather, but Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund has made the transition smoother for Ferrin through its scholarships and support.
And to recognize her hard work and dedication to transforming her family’s future, ASPSF has named Ferrin as the December 2022 Student of the Month.
“I try to do my absolute best to help people and make it through so that I can hopefully provide a better life for my kiddo,” Ferrin said. “ASPSF has helped me obtain the tools that I need to further my education and helped me stay afloat during inflation when times get really rough.”
Ferrin herself has helped support fellow single parent scholarship recipients. At the ASPSF Ozark West Region Fall 2022 Scholarship ceremony, Ferrin participated in the Parade of Resources where she provided information about the ways her employer, nonprofit Ozark Opportunities Inc., helps low-income families with early childhood education, utility assistance, and other resources.
“I love the nonprofit community outreach field,” Ferrin said. “I plan to continue serving the families in my community. If members of our community can continue to grow for themselves, it will lead to overall community improvement.”
For more information about single parent scholarships, volunteer opportunities, and ways to give, visit aspsf.org.