Whitley Hood of Perry County

Whitley Hood is saving lives and building a future.

As an advanced emergency medical technician (AEMT), Whitley made the courageous decision to return to school last fall to advance her career in emergency medicine while creating better opportunities for her 13-year-old son.

“I had always wanted to work within the health care field but just wasn’t sure if I wanted to be confined within the four walls of a hospital or clinic,” Whitely said. “I started EMT school and fell in love with providing care for people in emergency situations.”

This summer marks a pivotal milestone: Whitley is graduating from UA-Pulaski Tech’s paramedic program. In just weeks, she’ll take her paramedic licensure exam, the culmination of a dream that began when she first discovered her passion for emergency medicine.

As the Student of the Month, Whitley of Perry County is proving every day what single parents are capable of achieving with determination, support, and a little help from Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund (ASPSF).

Whitley has been a model student by excelling academically, staying in close communication with ASPSF staff, and fulfilling all program requirements while working full time and raising her son.

She’s proud of the way she’s managed to balance her many responsibilities, even though it meant missing a few of her son’s sports games.

“In the end, I will be able to provide a better life for us,” Whitley said. “[I’m also setting] an example for him to see how to push through obstacles he may face once he’s older.”

In fact, her dedication is already rubbing off on her son: “He now says he wants to become a paramedic as well,” she said.

After earning her paramedic license, Whitely plans to stay with her current employer, MedTech EMS, and provide a higher level of care beyond her current EMT and AEMT certifications. Eventually, she hopes to become an instructor to train the next generation of emergency responders.

Since receiving her first single parent scholarship last fall, she has used the aid to maintain her car and fill up on gas as she drives between hospitals, class, and clinicals.

The support has gone beyond the check. Whitley found value in ASPSF’s resume workshop, which helped her brush up on job-seeking skills she hadn’t used in years.

“Thank you so much for your generosity and helping single parents like myself feel a little more at ease and not have to worry about some of the extra expenses that come along with attending school,” Whitley said.