July 2026 Student of the Month: Jessica Rogers of Conway County
The Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund (ASPSF) is proud to announce Jessica Rogers of Conway County as our July 2026 Student of the Month. Since she first received an ASPSF scholarship in May 2023, she has earned her Associate of Applied Science in Welding and Associate of Applied Science in Computer-Aided Drafting and Design Technologies from the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton (UACCM).
Jessica, a mother of six, started college for the first time at the age of 40. She wants other parents to know it’s never too late.
After working hard in the service industry for over 20 years, Jessica knew she needed to make a change. Inspired by her cousins who work on the railroad, she went to school to study welding.
Falling in love with welding art, she took her education to the next level and earned a second degree in Computer-Aided Drafting and Design (CADD). Not only did she complete these degrees; she excelled. She’s even designed an enclosure at a zoo!
She’s giving back, too. She currently works at UACCM, leading the Career Pathways Program that helps parents get extra support as they navigate balancing school and family life.
“Together with the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund, there is great assistance that helps parents better their lives and find great jobs to provide for their kids,” she said.
When describing her life before going back to school she said, “it was a rough time for me trying to navigate work, home, and school.” However, she added, “Now that I work at the college, my daughter sees me every day. I have my own office for the first time, and it is the highest paying job I have ever had.”
Looking ahead, Jessica’s goal is simple: to build a stable, secure life for her youngest daughter.
“I plan to get a great job and not have to worry anymore,” she said. “Being able to provide a nice, stable home for my child to grow up and know it was all for her. Every trial, every tear, and every hardship that has come and gone, it was all to give her a better life.”
To the ASPSF community, she’d like to say:
“Every person or volunteer that I have spoken with or seen has always been so kind, uplifting, and encouraging. Without their support, I would not be where I am today. To the donors, I say thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Without this amazing program, so many single parents would not be able to better their lives.”
