Single Parent Scholarship Fund goes Cajun

Katy Stonesifer, right, and her daughter Blakely Stonesifer read at the Fayetteville Public Library. Katy Stonesifer is a 2013 graduate of the University of Arkansas with a bachelor of arts degree and is one of several recipients of the Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas. The organization’s Cajun Jamboree on Jan. 25 will help raise money for scholarships.

Katy Stonesifer, right, and her daughter Blakely Stonesifer read at the Fayetteville Public Library. Katy Stonesifer is a 2013 graduate of the University of Arkansas with a bachelor of arts degree and is one of several recipients of the Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas. The organization’s Cajun Jamboree on Jan. 25 will help raise money for scholarships.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

The Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas will make sure the Mardi Gras season is in full swing with its second annual Cajun Jamboree on Jan.

  1. The evening will feature live zydeco music from Snake Eyes (Jamey Hall) and the Bug Band (Mike Rickard, Ray Palmer, Robin Rues and Mark McGee).

Guests are encouraged to wear their dancing shoes as Hall will provide dance lessons along with the music. Cafe Rue Orleans will serve Cajun fare.

The scholarship fund awards traditional scholarships for full time and part-time students pursuing associate or bachelor’s degrees and professional certification scholarships for those pursuing certification such as nursing assistant or patient care technician.

To qualify for scholarships, applicants must be single parents, legal U.S. residents, pursuing a career-focused course of study, living at or near the federal poverty level, be an applicant for the Pell Grant and must have graduated from high school or hold a general education development certificate.

Scholarship recipients must maintain at least a 2.5 cumulative grade average and must reapply and interview for the scholarship each year.

One of the nonprofit organization’s driving principles is that the financial aid is a “hand up, not a handout” to scholarship recipients, so support is not limited to tuition money. The group also offers a mentoring program with area professionals and sponsors family activities such as holiday parties.

The scholarship program has provided more than 4,500 scholarships worth more than $3.1 million to single parents since 1984, according to the group’s website.

The annual amount given in recent years is approximately $300,000.

AT A GLANCE

Cajun Jamboree

What: Zydeco music, dance lessons, Cajun fare, cash bar When: 6:30 p.m. Jan. 25 Where: Pratt Place Barn in Fayetteville Tickets: $20 Attire: Casual Information: (479) 935-4888 or spsfnwa.org

Style, Pages 29 on 01/16/2014