Vote Now: 2026 Outstanding Partner Awards Finalists
Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund is excited to share the 2026 Outstanding Awards finalists.
You’re invited to cast your vote among the finalists in three categories: Educational Partner, Community Partner, and Distinguished Alumni.
Winners will be announced in mid-May and recognized at A Day of Hope on Sept. 18. Deadline to vote is 5 p.m. Monday, May 13.
Education Partner Finalists
The ASPSF Outstanding Educational Partner Award honors a postsecondary institution or education-centered organization that works alongside ASPSF to champion and support single parent students in achieving their educational goals through donations, service, and opportunities.
North Arkansas College in Harrison
- Incredible volunteers from the school’s staff
- School provides interview and award ceremony space to ASPSF
- Has sponsored ASPSF events in the recent past
- Incredible volunteers from the school’s staff
- School provides interview and award ceremony space to ASPSF
- Sponsored A Day of Hope in 2024 and 2025
- Great relationship with the ASPSF development team
Community Partner Finalists
The ASPSF Outstanding Community Partner Award is presented to a corporation, foundation, organization, family, church, or individual whose outstanding generosity and engagement with ASPSF significantly advance its mission and strengthen support for single parent students.
- The foundation has donated funds in 2024 and 2025 so recipients’ children in Pulaski County could attend summer camps for free and receive back-to-school supplies.
- ASPSF was the first grantee for this new foundation founded by Arden Stephens, who is the daughter of Carol and Witt Stephens of The Stephens Group and Carol and Witt Stephens Charitable Foundation, a longtime ASPSF supporter.
- Bank OZK has made numerous grants to support the scholarship program.
- It has also made in-kind donations, including free laptops for recipients.
- The bank offers financial and professional development workshops across the state for recipients.
- Bank OZK employs alumni and supporters — including a current board member.
- Greenwood Gearhart has made many gifts to support the ASPSF mission.
- Founder Mary Ann Greenwood created an endowment that funds scholarships across the state.
- The financial institution offers financial and professional development workshops across the state for recipients.
- Greenwood Gearhart manages ASPSF’s retirement portfolio.
Distinguished Alumni Finalists
The Distinguished Alumni category celebrates an ASPSF graduate who successfully finishes his or her degree, pursues a career with family-supporting wages, and gives back to the ASPSF program by volunteering and donating.
- Graduated in 2015
- Employed at an advertising agency
- Volunteers on event committees
- Graduated in 2023
- Employed in higher education
- Volunteers by helping with scholarship applications, interviews, and ceremonies
- Raised funds for 2026 ASPSF Day of Giving with a peer-to-peer fundraising page
Sheila Clay of Craighead County
- Graduated in 2019
- Employed as an elementary school teacher
- Volunteers via public speaking
- Donates consistently for Day of Giving/National Single Parent Day
