Sixteen area single parents receive academic scholarships

The recipients of the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Miller and Bowie Counties’ spring 2022 financial awards are, in no particular order, Jasmine Finley, Lasonya Larry, Courtney Hubbard, Kelly Long, Dajanee Manley, Bridget Bennett, Sharonda Smith, Rachel Kerby, Fredericka Wyrick, Nicole Carroll, Diniele Bringham, Demetria Baker, Alysha Willis, Katrine Eason, Tantenill Elliott and Delisa Johnson. (Submitted photo)
The recipients of the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Miller and Bowie Counties’ spring 2022 financial awards are, in no particular order, Jasmine Finley, Lasonya Larry, Courtney Hubbard, Kelly Long, Dajanee Manley, Bridget Bennett, Sharonda Smith, Rachel Kerby, Fredericka Wyrick, Nicole Carroll, Diniele Bringham, Demetria Baker, Alysha Willis, Katrine Eason, Tantenill Elliott and Delisa Johnson. (Submitted photo)

The Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Miller and Bowie Counties recently awarded scholarships to 15 single mothers and one single father pursuing a postsecondary degree or certification.

The spring 2022 recipients are Jasmine Finley, Lasonya Larry, Courtney Hubbard, Kelly Long, Dajanee Manley, Bridget Bennett, Sharonda Smith, Rachel Kerby, Fredericka Wyrick, Nicole Carroll, Diniele Bringham, Demetria Baker, Alysha Willis, Katrine Eason, Tantenill Elliott and Delisa Johnson.

The recipients attend either Texarkana College, Texas A&M University-Texarkana, University of Arkansas at Hope-Texarkana or an online institution of higher education. Individual awards vary based on a recipient's enrollment hours, with the maximum being $1,200 for a full-time student, said Sandra Warren, program manager for the scholarship fund.

"We give you discretionary money to use as students see fit – to pay for simple things that create the biggest barriers between them and their education," Warren said in an interview with the Gazette. "This can include things like child care, gas, car repairs, rent and utilities."

The awards are presented in spring, summer and fall.

"Over $1.9 million in scholarships awarded each year," Warren said about the fund's work in all 75 Arkansas counties and in Bowie County in Texas.

From spring 2019 to spring 2022, 186 scholarships totaling more than $159,600 were awarded in Miller and Bowie counties.

Application requirements are available online at www.aspsf.org.

The spring 2022 recipients recently participated in the mental health workshop "Be Kind to Your Mind" with 85 other participants across the state of Arkansas. The workshop was led by licensed professional counselor Barbara Gholston Larry of Texarkana, Texas.

Workshop topics included tips on how to deal with stress, such as journaling, positive self-affirmation, identifying personal stress triggers, learning to say no and exercise.

For information on the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund or to volunteer with the program, contact Warren at 870-330-7371 or [email protected].

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