Athens Resident Receives an ACCESS Scholarship for an Online College Degree with Ashworth College

May 8, 2012 - PRLog -- PEACHTREE CORNERS, Georgia – Ashworth College (http://www.ashworthcollege.edu), a leading online school, announced that Athens, AL, resident Courtney Farmer is the recipient of a 2012 ACCESS Scholarship. She will pursue an online career diploma program in small business management.

The Ashworth College Continuing Education for Student Success (ACCESS) Scholarship program was developed by the online school and awards up to $25,000 annually to prospective diploma and degree students who are interested in pursuing their education online in one of Ashworth College’s or sister school James Madison High School’s 115+ diploma, degree and online certificate programs.

“I have a dream of starting my own small business so I’m working very hard to finish the program at Ashworth” said Farmer, whose entrepreneurial spirit enables her to work, study and volunteer in her local community. “I’m really enjoying the lessons and I hope to be finished in time for the graduation ceremony.”

Raised by a single mother who held down a full-time job and attended college full-time, Farmer said that she developed an appreciation for education early in life.  “Education can open so many doors for a bright future that might otherwise be closed to you,” she added. “If you have the drive, ambition and the dream, it can be done and that is something that no one can take from you, because you’ve earned it.”

Farmer plans to enroll in an online bachelor’s degree program with Ashworth College just as soon as she completes her career diploma program.

Ashworth College and James Madison High School are leading online schools. Together they have built a tradition of excellence spanning 25 years by offering students worldwide more than 115 online college degrees, online certificate programs, career training, and online high school diploma options that are affordable and fit the schedules of non-traditional students and working adults.

“Education can take skills - and income - to the next level. We’re excited that through the ACCESS Scholarship program we can help create learning opportunities for those students needing something tailored to their specific situation or needs,” said Dr. Leslie Gargiulo, Ashworth College’s Chief Academic Officer. “The ACCESS Scholarship program has already proven to be an amazing opportunity for us to recognize deserving students and to help provide the educational foundation that will help set the course for their life ahead.”

“The ACCESS Scholarship program was founded to honor Ashworth’s late President and CEO, Gary Keisling’s personal mission of opening the doors of education to the underserved education population of America, we’re excited to present these scholarships,” Dr. Gargiulo added. She went on to explain that the program will be repeated in 2013 and application information will be available on the school’s website in December, 2012.
 
About the Gary Keisling ACCESS Scholarship program

Founded in 2011, the Gary Keisling ACCESS Scholarship program offers scholarships with a combined value of up to $25,000.

The ACCESS program honors the legacy of the online school’s late Chairman of the Board, Gary Keisling, whose personal and professional mission was to offer affordable and accessible education to underserved populations who historically have had limited access to educational opportunities or an accredited diploma or degree.

For more than 25 years Keisling was regarded as an industry leader and advocate for continuing education. His influence on distance education will continue to benefit students for many years to come.
   
About Ashworth College

Celebrating 25 years of Educating Minds and Changing Lives, leading online school, Ashworth College has built a tradition of excellence by offering students worldwide an extensive range of online college degrees, online certificate programs, career training and online high school diploma options that are affordable and fit the busy schedules of working adults. Ashworth offers military education as well as specialized programs for corporate partners and homeschoolers.

Headquartered in Peachtree Corners, GA, Ashworth is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). The Accrediting Commission of the DETC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency. Ashworth is parent to James Madison High School which is accredited regionally by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), an accreditation division of AdvancED and further provides career training and vocational programs in the fields of health, business, technology, education, and skilled trades through PCDI Canada, New York Institute of Photography and Sheffield School of Design.