ASPSF awards 75 Spring scholarships to single parents in Northeast Arkansas
Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund (ASPSF) congratulates the Spring 2026 scholarship recipients from the counties of Clay, Craighead, Greene, Mississippi, and Poinsett in Northeast Arkansas.
Spring 2026 recipients gather with their children following the awards program held March 22 at St. Bernards Auditorium in Jonesboro.
Thanks to the support of local donors and state funding, ASPSF awarded scholarships in Northeast Arkansas totaling $108,000 to 75 single parents pursuing associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and skilled-trade certificates. The single parents were honored at awards ceremonies at Arkansas Northeastern College in Blytheville on March 19 and St. Bernards Auditorium in Jonesboro on March 22.
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.
“This scholarship has given me stability and peace of mind during one of the most demanding seasons of my life,” said Spring 2026 recipient and Arkansas State University student Carla Caraway of Craighead County. “As a single parent pursuing my accounting degree and caring for my family, the financial support has allowed me to focus on my education instead of constantly worrying about how to cover basic expenses. Your generosity is not just helping me earn a degree — it is helping me build a secure and stable future for my son and break cycles of financial stress for our family.”
Local ASPSF volunteers and scholarship alumni LaShea Robinson and Raven Person assisted at the Jonesboro ceremony. Other guest volunteers included: Devion Portis, Edward Robinson, and Gregory Moore Jr. from The Academies at Jonesboro High School; Gresham Maxwell from Ridgefield Christian School; Haitham Alhajji from Arkansas State University; and Karess Winston from the Kappa Nu Omega chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Additionally, ASPSF volunteer Denese Bogard helped plan and present the Blytheville event.
Spring 2026 recipients gather with their children following the awards program held March 19 at Arkansas Northeastern College in Blytheville.
ASPSF would like to thank St. Bernards Auditorium and Arkansas Northeastern College for lending the use of their venues.
Among the students receiving a single parent scholarship were: Ahyesha Steward, Alexus Donnerson, Asia Frazier, Baylee Ford, Carrie Schoolfield, Chelsea Jones, Cheyenne Godding, Courtney Latham, Curtis Brown, Damali Dawson, Denicia Corbin, Destiny Lewis, Faylon Ford, Gabrielle Sprinkel, Ikira Wells, IyTeisha Box, Jakyra Smith, Jashayla Johnson, Jennifer Layman, Kallen Howard, Karla Caraway, Kayla Duncan, LaBria Hillard, Leshia Harvey, Makesha Davis, Marcy Mays, Megan Thiesse, Mikela Jones, Mokebia Callicutt, Olivia Perry, Pamela Bell, Quaneisha Macon, Rachel Jones, Reagan Webb, Ronisha Baker, Shacoria Lewis, Shakyra Anderson, Shanona Kitchens, Sienna Johnson, Whitley Cornelious, Yasmin Portis, and Yyel Williams all of Craighead County.
Mississippi County students included Alicia Depriest, Alicia Williams, Brandy McClelland, Constance DeBose, Donna Blair, Drewnilla Mcdougal, Ieasha Chappelle, Jasmine Thomas, Kalei Wimbley, Kavonna Bennett, Krystal Thierry, Malory Ennis, Mariah Smith, Michael Banks, Princess Vail, Quintryce Wells, Samantha Robey, Sherita Yankaway, Stephany Castillo, Ty’Asia King, and Xavia Allen.
From Poinsett County, Casondra Bloodworth, Haley Latham, Natalie Traynom, Robin McDavis, Shania Gibbs, and Whitney Carter were awarded.
Antwanette Robinson, Hailley Johnson, Shetia Sloan, Tiffany Rone, and Victoria Heigle from Greene County were awarded.
Lastly, Brittany Brummel from Clay County received a single parent scholarship
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.
