Like other single parents, the Central Arkansas Development Council’s Saline County Single Parent Scholarship Fund has helped Michael Sipes of Benton further his education and make him more self-sufficient.

“When I tried to find new work, I found that I wouldn’t start off making enough money for me and my daughter to survive, so I decided to go back to school,” Sipes said. “I found out about the CADC Single Parent Scholarship Fund, and I was able to complete my RN degree with honors.”

The funds are used to offset emergencies not covered by other sources, such as child care, car repair, fuel, books and tuition not otherwise covered or other emergencies that can interrupt education.

“The scholarship is a means for our community to assist single parents in returning to school to improve their marketable skills and make their goal attainable,” said Matt Burks, a CADC spokesman. “Welfare reform has resulted in communities investing methods to help people in their time of need.”

The basic idea behind the scholarship is that education and long-term employment are the best long-term solutions for families to reach self-sufficiency, Burks said. “The Single Parent Scholarship Fund gives the community a chance to help single parents better themselves through education and helps make the economy stronger.”

Sipes had a similar view. “My daughter sees the effort I was able to put forth with the help of CADC and I can see that I am setting a good example for her and her future,” he said.

Each scholarship recipient is provided with counseling, information and referrals in the program. In return the scholarship recipients are required to participate in annual fund-raising drives. Eligible expenses must be documented, preapproved and payments of scholarship monies are made directly to vendors.

Every dollar raised locally, up to $6,000, is matched by the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund. That is made possible with funding through the Walton Family Foundation, Burks said.

Sipes began working as a registered nurse Monday for the John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital in Little Rock.

“Not only has CADC helped me and my daughter’s life, but I am saving hundreds of lives now,” he said. “It would not have been possible without assistance.”

CADC is accepting scholarship applications through June 30.

A scholarship fundraiser in the form of a political rally will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday on the lawn of the Saline County Courthouse.

Lunch will be served for a cost of $10. Voters will have an opportunity to meet with 25 state and local candidates, including gubernatorial candidates Attorney General Mike Beebe and Asa Hutchinson. Tickets may be purchased by calling 303-5640.

This entry was posted by Taman Siswa on Friday, May 19, 2006 at 6:35 pm and is filed under Education News, Scholarship. Tags: Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund, Asa Hutchinson, “The Single Parent Scholarship Fund, Burks, CADC Single Parent Scholarship Fund, car repair, Central Arkansas Development Council, Central Arkansas Development Council's Saline County Single Parent Scholarship Fund, Education News, John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital, long-term solutions, Matt Burks, Michael Sipes, Mike Beebe, Saline County Courthouse, Scholarship, scholarship applications, Walton Family Foundation, . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.