Lorton Resident Receives a Full-Tuition Online Degree Scholarship from Ashworth College

April 13, 2010 - PRLog -- NORCROSS, Georgia – Ashworth College announced that Angela Dean, Lorton, VA, is the recipient of a full-tuition scholarship, to pursue her online degree. Dean’s essay, where she shared her personal story and aspiration to attain a higher education to improve her life, was selected from the close to 300,000 applicants applying for an eLearners.com Career Stimulus Package Scholarship.

Dean, who is a wife and mother to six children, views online education as a perfect opportunity to make a better life and brighter future for her family. With her scholarship, she plans to pursue a Professional Physical Therapy Aide Program at Ashworth College (http://www.ashworthcollege.edu).

“We are a single income family, no family health plan and our ten year old daughter is non-verbal autistic,” said Dean, who has not worked in over ten years in order to be available for her children. “Every day is a challenge and we have made many sacrifices in order to help her adapt.  At the same time, we are thankful that God has blessed us with this special child.”

“Like many others, we are struggling to make ends meet,” she explained. “The house we are renting is in foreclosure, so we have to move soon. With our limited resources, I’m concerned about finding a new school with a program for children with Autism.”

“I’ve always loved working with people,” added Dean. “With my Ashworth scholarship, I will be able to pursue a career helping people with physical disabilities. At the same time, I’ll be earning a living to provide my daughter with the most effective therapies and classes she needs in order to have a good life and independence when she is older."

The Career Stimulus Package $4 million scholarship campaign was designed to highlight the need for financial aid and promote awareness and interest in online higher education.  It also helped give people the confidence they need to pursue a degree and the career they want, even in this tough economy. The Career Stimulus Package campaign received about 100,000 applications a month from adults who expressed interest in returning to school.  To apply for a scholarship, applicants had to explain why they want to go back to school, what they hope to accomplish, how online education would help them accomplish those goals, and their personal stories of triumph over adversity.  

“Participating in the Career Stimulus Package Scholarship Campaign has been a positive experience for Ashworth College,” said F. Milton Miller, Ed.D. and Ashworth Vice President, Education. “It’s a great opportunity, through education, to help deserving, hard-working adults make a positive impact in their lives.”

“With the current economic climate, it is essential to have the greatest competitive advantage possible,” Miller added. “Having a college degree or advanced training can set an employee or job seeker apart -- demonstrating business knowledge to peers, potential customers and current or future employers.”

In addition to the scholarship for Dean, Ashworth College granted an additional 29 scholarships.  In total, the Career Stimulus Package campaign awarded more than 100 full-tuition scholarships to deserving adults, with the help of eight accredited online schools.  

“Thanks to the incredible generosity of our partner schools, adults are able to go back to school without having to worry about how they are  going to fund their education,” said Terrence Thomas, Executive Vice President of Marketing for eLearners.com.  “Adults are often a forgotten population when it comes to financial aid.  We hear from people over and over that they want to go back to school, but can’t afford it.  This campaign helped eliminate one huge roadblock for these individuals.”  

The Career Stimulus Package campaign also included a nationwide RV tour which offered free career coaching.  Nearly 1,000 people took part in the career coaching, which led to the creation of a free book of wisdom based on the most common questions asked from the road.  That book can be found at http://www.careerstimulus.com.

Editor’s Note:  To arrange an interview with a scholarship recipient, or a member of the Career Stimulus Package campaign contact Jenny Foust at 303.433.7020, jfoust@csg-pr.com.  To speak with a member of Ashworth College contact Richard Orr at 770.729.8400, rorr@ashworthcollege.edu.

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About Ashworth College

Ashworth College, a leader in distance education, offers students worldwide more than 100 career-focused high school, career school, associates, bachelor’s and master’s online diploma, certificate, and 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). The Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency. 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.