THREE RIVERS AREA — As if being a single mom
weren’t difficult enough,
Judy Collins of Searcy de
cided to go back to college
after owning a hair salon for
15 years. Collins graduated
from Harding University in
May and is working on her
master’s degree in school
and clinical counseling.
She maintains that this
would have been too finan
cially draining to do on her
own, and she credits a part
of her educational accom
plishments to receiving the
White County Single Par
ent Scholarship.
After she graduatedfrom high school in 1977, she attended Arkansas State University for a while.
“I felt like I needed the money, and I started to work,” Collins said.
Then in the mid-’80s, she went to barber college and opened up a salon. She also worked at the Eaton Corp. and rented out boothsin her salon.
Raising two children, owning a business and working full time, Collins still found time to serve her community.
“I got into service work after my dad passed away,” Collins said. “He was very active, and I stepped up.”
Her service work didn’tgo unnoticed. Collins was named White County Woman of the Year in 2004 by the Kensett Civic Awareness Club. She also received the James R. Stover Community Volunteer of the Year award from the Eaton Corp.
Along with volunteeringher time to various community activities, Collins served on the steering committee for White County Involved in Substance Abuse Eradication. She is also co-founder and president of Concerned Citizens for a Better Community in Searcy. She also served on the board of directors of the White County Single Parent Scholarship Fund Inc., and she resigned before applying for the scholarship.
“I’d like for all kids to learn how to perform community service and express themselvesthrough charity,” Collins said.
She believes that young people can move toward a higher education through volunteerism.
“Judy is an excellent example of what the White County Single Parent Scholarship Fund Inc. is striving to do in the community,” said Dan Newsom, the fund’s executive director. “The scholarships are designed to help single parents complete their education, make a better life for themselves and their children, thus helping the community as well.”
The White County Single Parent Scholarship Fund Inc.was founded in 1999 by the Bald Knob Rotary Club. That year, it awarded one scholarship for $200. The program began to grow, and in 2005 received its 501 (c)(3) status as a private nonprofit organization. Since 2000, the Scholarship Fund has awarded 253 scholarships worth a total of $114,562.
“What impresses me the most about this organization is that the retention rate for our scholars is 86 percent,” Newsom said. “The average college retention rate nationwide is 40 percent. Our scholars are really motivated to succeed. It is a real thrill to see our scholars take pride in theiraccomplishments and know that WCSPSF has had a part in assisting them in their success.”
Collins said her 15-year-old son, Jordan, tells her how proud he is of her accomplishments.
“It’s not easy, but you can do it,” Collins said about what she tells single parents who are thinking about going back to school. “It takes hard work and dedication, and it depends on how bad you want to change your situation.”
For more information on single-parent scholarships, visit www.spsf.org.
- jbrosius@ arkansasonline.com
Three Rivers, Pages 121 on 06/27/2010