Traditional Scholarship Application Deadlines
March 15: Summer | June 15: Fall | October 15: Spring |
Traditional Scholarship Application Deadlines
March 15: Summer June 15: Fall October 15: Spring
Scholarships
Traditional Scholarships
for students seeking an associate, bachelor’s, Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.), and licensure in cosmetology or massage therapy at approved institutions.
Healthcare Career and Vocational Education Scholarships
for students pursuing healthcare or professional certifications at approved institutions (NWTI, UAMS/Schmieding Center, Petra Allied Health, PRN, North Arkansas College or NWACC) and various courses at the University of Arkansas Global Campus.
Approved Institutions of Study
- Academy of Professional Cosmetology
- American Public University
- Arkansas State University (ASU)
- Arkansas Tech University (ATU)
- Arkansas Tech University- Ozark (ATU-Ozark)
- Blue Cliff College (massage therapy program only)
- Brightwater (NWACC)
- Career Academy of Hair Design
- Crowder College
- eVersity (University of Arkansas system)
- Franklin University
- Harding University (HU-NWA Center)
- John Brown University (JBU)
- Missouri Southern State University
- North Arkansas College (NorthArk)
- Northeast Technology Center (NETECH – Kansas, Oklahoma)
- NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC)
- Northwest Technical Institute (NTI)
- Paul Mitchell The School
- Southern Arkansas University (SAU)
- University of Arkansas (U of A)
- University of Arkansas – Global Campus
- University of Arkansas Fort Smith (UAFS)
- University of Arkansas Little Rock (UALR)
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS)
- Certified Retail Analyst program through NWACC Workforce & Economic Development
Traditional Scholarships
Full-time $2000 per semester. Part-time $1000
For students enrolled in an eligible program at one of the area universities, community colleges, or trade schools seeking an:
- Diploma Programs
- Associate Degree
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Master of Arts in Teaching (the only graduate program SPSF NWA funds)
- Licensure in Massage Therapy or Cosmetology
**APPLICATIONS FOR SUMMER 2021 ARE LIVE!**

Traditional Scholarships
Full time is $2000 per semester. Part-time is $1000
For students enrolled in an eligible program at one of the area universities, community colleges, or trade schools seeking an:
- Diploma Programs
- Associate Degree
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Master of Arts in Teaching (the only graduate program SPSF NWA funds)
- Licensure in Massage Therapy or Cosmetology
$2,000 Healthcare Careers and Vocational Education Scholarships
One-Time $2,000
These scholarships are $2,000 and are a one-time scholarship for students enrolled at Petra Allied Health in one of the following programs:
- Dental Assistant
- Medical Assistant
- Medical Billing & Coding/Insurance Specialist
It can be applied for at any time during the year. There are no deadlines to apply for this scholarship.

$2,000 Healthcare Careers and Vocational Education Scholarships
One-Time $2,000
These scholarships are $2,000 and are a one-time scholarship for students enrolled at Petra Allied Health in one of the following programs:
- Dental Assistant
- Medical Assistant
- Medical Billing & Coding/Insurance Specialist
It can be applied for at any time during the year. There are no deadlines to apply for this scholarship.
Professional Certification Scholarships
$500
$700 HC & VE Scholarship
*Business Core (NWTI)
$500 HC & VE Scholarship
*All other certifications
These scholarships are a one-time scholarship for students enrolled at approved institutions (NWTI, UAMS/Schmieding Center, Petra Allied Health, PRN, North Arkansas College or NWACC) and various courses at the University of Arkansas Global Campus.

Professional Certification Scholarships
$700 HC VE & Scholarship
*Business Core (NWTI)
$500 HC & VE Scholarship
*All other certifications
These scholarships are a one-time scholarship for students enrolled at approved institutions (NWTI, UAMS/Schmieding Center, Petra Allied Health, PRN, North Arkansas College or NWACC) and various courses at the University of Arkansas Global Campus.
Creating better, brighter futures for single-parent families.
To qualify you must be:
- A single parent (see definition below)
- A legal United States resident OR a resident with DACA Status, and a resident of Carroll, Madison, or Washington County, Arkansas.
- A high school or GED graduate.
- Pursuing a career-oriented course of study (full or part-time) to ensure a better standard of living for your family.
- Living at or near the poverty level (up to 250% of Federal Poverty Guidelines)
- An applicant of the Pell Grant (not required for Allied Health or Professional Certification Scholarship applicants)
- Must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5.
- Applicants who have previously earned a bachelor’s degree do not qualify for this scholarship.
- Applicants who hold a professional certification or an associate’s degree will only be considered eligible if they are pursuing a degree or certification at the next level.
- Applicants who have earned 150 credit hours or more will not be eligible for a scholarship.
*Please note that for purposes of the Single Parent Scholarship a Single Parent family is defined as: a family with children under age 18 and/or a severely disabled adult child over 18, headed by a parent who is widowed or divorced and not remarried, or by a parent who has never married and is caring for the children without assistance of another parent in the home.
THE ONLINE APPLICATION AND ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS MUST BE COMPLETED and POST-MARKED or RECEIVED BY THE DEADLINE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A SCHOLARSHIP.
Application Process
- Complete online application (must be submitted by deadline)
- Submit additional requirements (must be postmarked or received by deadline)
- Schedule and attend interview
- Scholarships are announced
- Scholarship recipients MUST REAPPLY each semester

Application Process/Deadline
- Complete online application (must be submitted by deadline)
- Submit additional requirements (must be postmarked or received by deadline)
- Schedule and attend interview
- Scholarships are announced
- Scholarship recipients MUST REAPPLY each semester
Contact the office listed on this website if you have any questions regarding the application or the requirements for receiving a scholarship.
Endowed Scholarships
Forty-five named endowed scholarships are awarded annually to exemplary students in the SPSF NWA program. The families and businesses who established the named endowed scholarships are recognized and provided the opportunity to become acquainted with their chosen recipient at the Pathway to Prosperity Brunch. Endowed Scholarship recipients are selected based upon the criteria set by the family or business. All recipients are low-income, single parents who are pursuing higher education as his/her family’s pathway out of poverty.
In 2019, six inaugural endowed scholarships were awarded, including The Dick Forsythe Endowed Single Parent Scholarship, The Garrison Asset Management Endowed Single Parent Scholarship, The Frank Johnson Endowed Single Parent Scholarship, The Sandra K. Martin Endowed Single Parent Scholarship, The Dennis and Evelyn Shaw Endowed Single Parent Scholarship, and The Whitaker Family Foundation Endowed Single Parent Scholarship.
Inductions for 2020 will be delayed until 2021, due to COVID-19.

SPSF NWA Endowed Scholarships
The families and businesses who have established the named endowed scholarships are recognized below:
The Charlotte Langworthy Forsythe Endowed Scholarship
The Diane Blair Memorial Scholarship
The Elaine M. Longer Endowed Scholarship
The Lois J. Imhoff Single Parent Endowed Scholarship
The Willard and Pat Walker Endowed Single Parent Scholarship
The Forsythe Family Endowed Scholarship
The Alford Sherman Endowed Scholarship
The Richard F. Cooper Endowed Scholarship
The Bognadow Daseke Endowed Scholarship
The Tyson Foods Endowed Scholarship
The David Longer Endowed Scholarship
The Ross Pendergraft Endowed Scholarship
The Donald L. Neal Endowed Scholarship
The Duke Family Endowed Scholarship
The Windgate Foundation Endowed Scholarship
The Gene and Susan Anderson Endowed Scholarship
The Waggoner Cunningham Endowed Scholarship
The Parks Family Endowed Scholarship
The Franco Family Endowed Single Parent Scholarship
The Betty Lighton Endowed Single Parent Scholarship
The James Sanford Endowed Scholarship
The Kathy O’Kelley Endowed Scholarship
The Madison County Endowed Scholarship
The Carroll County Endowed Scholarship
The Furst Family Endowed Scholarship
The Bob and Diane Shaw Family Endowed Scholarship
The Washington Regional Medical Center Endowed Scholarship
The Hershey and Denise Garner Endowed Scholarship
The Gretchen Longer Endowed Scholarship
The Short-Coan Family Endowed Scholarship
The Diana Ruth Griscom Endowed Scholarship
The First Security Bank Endowed Scholarship
The Hannah and Greg Lee Endowed Scholarship
The Janet and Luke Parsch Endowed Scholarship
The Vail Family Endowed Scholarship
The Sandra K. Martin Endowed Scholarship
The Garrison Asset Management Endowed Scholarship
The Bagwell Family Endowed Scholarship
The Dick Forsythe Endowed Scholarship
The Frank Johnson Endowed Scholarship
The Whitaker Family Endowed Scholarship
The Dennis and Evelyn Shaw Endowed Scholarship
The Kelly Endowed Scholarship
The Crouch, Harwell, Fryar & Ferner, PLLC Endowed Scholarship
The H. Norman Ervin Memorial Scholarship
The Longer Family Endowed Scholarship
Contact Us
16 W. Colt Square Drive
Fayetteville, AR 72703Phone: 479-935-4888
Email: info@spsfnwa.org
Our Network
To learn more about the efforts of Single Parent Scholarship fund outside of Carroll, Madison and Washington County visit www.aspsf.org to find your local affiliate
Application Deadlines for Traditional Scholarships
Spring Semester – October 15
Summer Semester – March 15
Fall Semester – June 15
Non-Discrimination Policy
Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas, Inc. is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients. SPSF NWA does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.
These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services.