ASPSF awards 75 Fall 2024 scholarships to single parents in Northeast Arkansas

Fall 2024 scholarship recipients from Northeast Arkansas were honored at an awards ceremony on Sept. 29. at St. Bernards Auditorium in Jonesboro.

Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund (ASPSF), congratulates the Fall 2024 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 to 75 single parents pursuing associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and skilled-trade certificates. The single parents were honored at an awards ceremony on Sept. 29 at St. Bernards Auditorium in Jonesboro.

Local ASPSF volunteer LaShea Robinson and her son, Cross, along with other volunteers outside of the organization, assisted with the Sept. 29 event. ASPSF would also like to thank St. Bernards Auditorium for lending the use of its venue for the ceremony as well as local photographer Norm Dickson, who provided professional headshots to the recipients.

Fall 2025 ASPSF recipient Shanona K. is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Arkansas State University. 

“I would like to extend a sincere thank you to the volunteers and donors of the Single Parent Fund,” said Shanona K., a Craighead County Arkansas State University student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology. “As a single mom, making ends meet and maintaining a healthy environment for my child will always be my foremost desire. This scholarship makes school possible because I worry less about our daily needs. I am eternally grateful.”

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.

In 2024, the ASPSF Northeast Region has awarded $206,400 in scholarships to 101 single parents, who showed their children that higher education is within reach. This investment not only strengthens communities with viable economic impact but also emboldens entire families to imagine a brighter future.  

ASPSF volunteer LaShea Robinson and her son, Cross, assisted with the Northeast Arkansas Fall 2025 Scholarship Ceremony held Sept. 29 in Jonesboro. 

Northeast Arkansas students who received a Fall 2025 single parent scholarship include:

Craighead County: Amanda Leslie, Aqueya Earl, Briana H., Charles Kirkindall, Claudeya W., Courtnee Henry, Dawn H., Emily S., Jaslisa D., Jasmine James, Kallen Howard, Keairra Thomas, Kia A., Kiauana J., Megan Thiesse, Melissa R., Micah F., Raven P., Riley Williams, Ronisha B., Shakyra Anderson, Shanona K., Stephanie Blackburn, Teresa Miller, Terri H., and Tyesha Isom

Lawrence County: Abby Wallace, Drusyla Wilson, and Kara Bradley were awarded.  
Mississippi County students included Albert Boyd Sr., Alicia D. Alicia W., Angel Winter, Erika F., Ieasha C., India L., Jacqelle Jones, Jaime Gray, Kavonna B., Kayla Griffin, Kaylee Herriman, Lakesa Thomas, Martricia Harvey, Quaniesha Fowler, Quintryce W., Ressie Jackson, Rochele Harris, Sandra McDuffey, and Shawnequa Smith 

Poinsett County: Amanda A., Harden Daniels, Kanisha L., and Robin M.

Greene County: Ashlie Thacker, Dashawna Mason, Rebecca Smith, and Stephanie Rock

Randolph County: Felicia Graves

Note that some students were 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 callen@aspsf.org or 870-345-4681.