Statesboro Mother Receives Full-Ride Scholarship for an Online Degree at Ashworth College

Dec. 29, 2009 - PRLog -- NORCROSS, Georgia  – Ashworth College today announced that Meghann Mincey, a mother from Statesboro, GA is the recipient of a national “Project Working Mom…and Dads, Too!” full-ride scholarship.  Mincey will pursue a Professional Medical Billing and Claims Program at Ashworth College, an accredited  online institution.  Ashworth College is one of the five participating “Project Working Mom…and Dads, Too!” schools to help send parents back to college – tuition free – in these tough economic times.  

This latest Project Working Mom campaign, the third in a series, received more than double the number of applications submitted in the first two rounds held in 2008 combined.  This year generated more than 315,000 applications, including some of the most gut-wrenching, heart-warming and inspiring essays as part of the process.
 
Statesboro mother, Mincey, is one of about 60 parents to receive the “Project Working Mom…and Dads, Too!” scholarship; Ashworth College is awarding 20 of those scholarships.

“When I was in high school, I had my future planned out perfectly. I was captain of the basketball team, an active member in JROTC, I ran cross country. And I had been accepted to college with an academic scholarship. I was ready to take on life by myself and experience college,” explained Mincey.  “When the nurse told me I was two months pregnant my heart almost burst.”

Following the birth of her daughter, Mincey finished high school. Abandoned by her daughter’s father, she began finding jobs to get by, but nothing that would give her the flexibility go to school and care for her daughter. When the local Wal-Mart Distribution Center closed the facility she was working part-time, she switched to second shift which prevented her from concentrating on her studies.

“Online education will enable me to care for my daughter and find a work schedule that will be more suitable for my way of living. When she calls me mommy and she tells me she loves me I know that what I’m going through is worth it.” Mincey added. “Getting my degree is will not only benefit my financial situation and my living conditions but it will also benefit the way my daughter views life and the way she cope with difficult times when she sees the challenges that I have overcome for her.”

“Partnering with Project Working Mom…and Dads Too! has been a fantastic opportunity for Ashworth College to help make a difference. Through education, we’ve been able to help deserving, hard-working parents improve their lives,” said F. Milton Miller, Ed.D. and Ashworth Vice President, Education.

“A college degree can set an employee or business owner apart as a professional, demonstrating business knowledge to peers, potential customers and employers,” Miller added. “Education can take skills - and income - to the next level.”

Each of the “Project Working Mom…and Dads, Too!” scholarship recipients will receive a scholarship to complete an online degree program tuition free.  The overwhelming response to this scholarship opportunity and the stories of sacrifice and determination from the applicants have been a stark reminder of the struggles parents face in balancing life, work and school and how online education can help people achieve their goals.

“Going back to school isn’t easy, but without the right degree you may get passed over for a job or promotion,” said Helen MacDermott, the content director for “Project Working Mom…and Dads, Too!”, who is also a mom going to school online.  “This campaign was designed to remove the barriers so people can go to school at their own time and pace and don’t have to worry about the costs.  We’ve helped make dreams come true and it’s been an honor to be a part of these campaigns.”

eLearners.com, an online education resource that connects prospective students with online learning providers, first created “Project Working Mom” in January 2008.  The initial campaign received more than 50,000 applications and awarded about 40 scholarships.  That campaign was quickly followed by “Project Working Mom 2”, which received more than 72,000 applicants and awarded more than 50 scholarships.  All campaigns combined distributed an estimated market value of more than $6 million in full-ride scholarships.

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About Ashworth College

Ashworth College, a leader in distance education, offers students worldwide more than 100 career-focused High School and Career online diploma programs; undergraduate and graduate online certificate programs; and Associate, Bachelor’s and Master’s online degree programs that are affordable and fit the busy schedules of working adults. Ashworth also offers specialized programs to corporate partners, active duty military personnel, military spouses, and homeschoolers.

Headquartered in Norcross, GA, Ashworth is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), a division of the US Department of Education. Ashworth High School is also accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). For more information visit AshworthCollege.edu.