ASPSF Student of the Month: Jasmine Harris of Jackson County
The Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund is proud to recognize Jasmine Harris of Jackson County as our December 2025 Student of the Month. Jasmine is a devoted mother, a future registered nurse, and an example of extraordinary perseverance in the face of challenge.
Her passion for helping people began long before she entered nursing school. Growing up, she helped care for her disabled sister, an experience that shaped her compassionate nature and planted the seed for her career in health care.
For Jasmine, the motivation behind this dream is simple and powerful.
“I’ve always wanted to be a nurse,” she said. “I’ve always had a strong desire to care for others.”
That motivation has carried Jasmine through every challenge, including one of the hardest moments of her life. In 2018, Jasmine experienced a devastating complication: the loss of vision in one eye. Adjusting to a prosthetic eye, not only physically, but emotionally, tested her strength in ways she never expected.
“I had to learn to cope with the loss of vision in my eye, life changes, and depression,” she said. “I learned that the loss of my eye did not mean that my dream was lost, and I could still reach my goal of becoming an RN.”
With the encouragement of her family and her own determination, Jasmine kept moving forward. She reenrolled in school, stepped into the demanding world of nursing, and refused to let obstacles define her future.
Jasmine’s nursing journey began at Arkansas State University–Newport (ASUN), where she earned her licensed practical nurse (LPN) certificate. She first received the ASPSF scholarship in Spring 2023, after hearing about the program from another student in her LPN program.
Since then, the scholarship has helped her cover school supplies and pay for necessary nursing certification exams. Beyond the financial relief, Jasmine says the wraparound support has prepared her for life after graduation.
“The workshops have helped me so much in learning about finances, home ownership, and preparing me for a substantial increase in earnings upon completion of the RN program.”
Jasmine has continued her education in ASUN’s Registered Nursing Associate Degree program, where she will proudly graduate on December 9, 2025. This is a milestone she has been dreaming of since she was a little girl.
Today, she works as an LPN at the Arkansas Department of Corrections Grimes Unit, gaining invaluable experience and strengthening the clinical skills she’ll carry into her RN career.
But the deepest source of inspiration in her life is her daughter, 4-year-old Jalaiya, a bright and imaginative little girl who watches her mother with admiration.
“I wanted to be a person who my daughter could look up to,” Jasmine said. “To be motivated to work hard herself, continue her education, and make a good life.”
Her determination is reflected in her daughter, too.
“My child mimics me studying and pretends that she is a nurse,” she said. “She loves to dress up in her nurse costume with her stethoscope.”
To the donors who make opportunities like this possible for single parents, Jasmine says:
“Thank you so much for the financial support to help in completing the RN program and for making ASPSF support programs available to develop skills needed to prepare for the future upon program completion.”
As she approaches graduation, Jasmine’s sights are set on the next chapter, working in a hospital emergency or cardiology department, and eventually continuing her education to advance her nursing career even further.
This December, we proudly celebrate Jasmine, not just for earning her RN degree, but for the courage, love, and perseverance she embodies every day. She is a reminder that dreams delayed are never dreams denied, and that with support, determination, and heart, single parents across Arkansas can build brighter futures for themselves and their children.
