Development council taking applications for scholarships

By The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

BENTON — The Central

Arkansas Development Coun

cil is accepting applications for

the Single Parent Scholarship

Fund program. For an applica

tion, contact your local fam

ily or community development

specialist.

In Clark County, contact

Tia Thomas at (870) 246-8089.

In Columbia County, contact

Virginia Williamson at (870)

234-6444. In Dallas County,

contact Zella Gullett at (870)

352-8894.

In Hot Spring County, con

tact Brinda Speer at (501) 337-

8401. In Pike County, contact

Debbie Whisenhunt at (870)

398-4243. In Saline County,

contact Quinn Dixon at (501)

315-0885.

Applicants must return a

completed application, three

letters of recommendation, a

current transcript of all com

pleted courses and a goal state

ment.

Applicants must be enrolledin an undergraduate course of study with the exception of candidates for the Master of Arts in Teaching degree. Each application is screened and each applicant will then participate in an interview session.

To qualify for the Single Parent Scholarship, applicants must be a resident of the county in which they are applying, a high school or GED graduate, a single head of household (single, divorced or widowed), pursuing a career-oriented course of study to ensure a better standard of living for his/her family, a recipient of or in the process of obtaining a Pell Grant, maintain a 2.0 GPA and must agree to submit to monthly reporting requirements. Applicants cannot already have earned an undergraduate degree with the exception of those pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching.

Income guidelines must also be met. A two-person household must make less than $1,517per month to be eligible for this scholarship.

For each additional family member, add $389 to the monthly income to determine eligibility.

Each scholarship recipient is provided with counseling, information and referrals in the program. In return, the scholarship recipients are encouraged to participate in fundraising for the program.

Every dollar raised locally is matched dollar for dollar up to $6,000.

The Single Parent Scholarship can be used to offset emergencies such as child care, car repair, fuel, books and tuition not covered by other sources.

For more information, contact Evelyn Reed at (501) 778-1133 or your local family or community development specialist.

Tri-Lakes, Pages 144 on 11/01/2009