$61K Raised as 453 Single Parents Receive Scholarships Across Arkansas
ASPSF awards $659,600 in scholarships while surpassing its Day of Giving goal
Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund (ASPSF) raised $61,000 during its second annual Day of Giving on March 20, showing strong statewide support for single parents working toward a college degree.
Single parent scholarships in Arkansas continue to play a critical role in helping families overcome financial barriers to education.
This fundraising effort came as ASPSF awarded $659,600 in Spring 2026 scholarships to 453 single parents, helping student parents across 69 counties stay enrolled in college or trade school while supporting their families.
Statewide Impact of Single Parent Scholarships
Local Impact in Texarkana and Surrounding Counties
In Bowie County, Texas, ASPSF awarded $24,400 to 13 spring students. In Miller County, Arkansas, ASPSF awarded $8,400 to seven students. One of these recipients includes Shomari Nailon of Bowie County. She is studying health science at Texarkana College, and her long-term goal is to become a pharmacist.
“Without this program, I would’ve had to drop out and focus on my bills,” she said. “But with this program I am in my final semester and will be the first grandchild to graduate from college out of 15. I am extremely proud to do something like this because I’ve always been doubted.”
This impact extends to families across the Texarkana region, where student parents are working to build more stable futures through education.
How ASPSF Scholarships Support Student Parents
ASPSF scholarships can be used for expenses that often stand between a single parent and graduation, including child care, transportation, housing, utilities, and school-related costs. The financial aid is paired with support services to help these nontraditional students successfully balance school, work, and parenting.
These scholarships help cover essential costs like childcare, housing, transportation, utilities, and school-related expenses.
“Day of Giving showed how deeply Arkansans believe in the determination of single parents who are working to create a better future for their families,” said Jenn Morehead. “Every gift helps remove barriers that can keep a student parent from finishing school and moving into a career with family-supporting wages.”
The Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund (ASPSF) continues to expand its reach through community support and statewide partnerships.
Day of Giving Surpasses Fundraising Goals
This year’s Day of Giving exceeded the nonprofit’s $45,000 goal, and the campaign raised nearly twice as much as last year.
The fundraiser coincides with National Single Parent Day and brought together donors, volunteers, community partners, and local supporters across the state to invest in the success of single parent families. For many recipients, this support means more than financial help. It means knowing someone believes in their future.
Programs like this continue to provide long-term support for single parents pursuing education and career advancement.
For more information, visit ASPSF online or contact Jen Lawrence.
About Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund
About Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund: Statewide nonprofit Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund (ASPSF) is dedicated to ending single parent poverty through higher education. Since 1990, ASPSF has awarded more than $50 million in scholarships and provided services that empower single parents to complete their education and pursue higher-paying careers. With the help of volunteers and community support, ASPSF creates multigenerational change, transforming lives for both single parents and their children. Learn more at aspsf.org.
