58 Parents Receive Full-Tuition College Scholarships Through First Round of eLearners.com's Project Working Mom 2010

Next Deadline to Apply for a Project Working Mom Scholarship is April 27

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Apr 22, 2010, 07:30 ET

HOBOKEN, N.J., April 22 /PRNewswire/ -- eLearners.com (http://www.elearners.com), a web resource of EducationDynamics, which connects prospective students with online classes, today announced the fifty-eight parents who will receive full-tuition scholarships as part of the first-round of Project Working Mom 2010 awards. Project Working Mom is a full-tuition scholarship program that offers parents a second chance at higher education. In total, about 100 first-round scholarships will be awarded; the remaining recipients are still being finalized. The three rounds of Project Working Mom 2010 will award more than 280 full-tuition scholarships, totaling nearly $5 million. The accredited online institutions providing the scholarships are Ashford University, Everest University, Virginia College, Walden University, Capella University, Saint Leo University, Allied Schools and Ashworth College.

The scholarships awarded through Project Working Mom 2010 were granted to recipients across the United States and ranged from the certificate to Ph.D. level. The recipients include:

ALABAMA

Kristi Lazzari, Loxley, AL – Allied Schools

ARIZONA

Heather Morris, Phoenix, AZ – Ashworth College

Lisette Cota, Tucson, AZ – Allied Schools

CALIFORNIA

Nina Massingill, Carmichael, CA – Allied Schools

Lydia Carrilo, Chino Hills, CA – Everest University

Trisele Hall, Elk Grove, CA – Allied Schools

Melissa Young, Fontana, CA – Allied Schools

Haydee Pelayo, Hayward, CA – Ashworth College

Laura Santoyo, Hollister, CA – Allied Schools

Lisa Rodriguez, Los Angeles, CA – Walden University

Pamela Sowers, Mission Viejo, CA – Allied Schools

Josephine Randolph, Ontario, CA – Ashworth College

FLORIDA

Yehoda Addofio, Key West, FL – Everest University

Marisol Ferreira, Kissimmee, FL – Everest University

Brian Zetzsche, Spring Hill, FL – Capella University

Jessica Earls, Tampa, FL – Allied Schools

Brenda Ayala Figueruelo, Tampa, FL – Virginia College

ILLINOIS

Molly Haan, Geneseo, IL – Ashworth College

Kayla Arbuckle, Sublette, IL – Saint Leo University

MARYLAND

Tracey Johnson, Bowie, MD – Virginia College

Erin Jones, Leonardtown, MD – Ashford University

Sandra Sjoberg, Middletown, MD – Walden University

Kiara Reid, Oxon Hill, MD – Allied Schools

Lucreata Hamilton, Rock Hall, MD – Allied Schools

MASSACHUSETS

Cynthia Wayner, New Bedford, MA – Everest University

MICHIGAN

Veronica Valdez, Pontiac, MI – Everest University

MISSOURI

Heather Aldridge, Lebanon, MO – Ashworth College

MISSISSIPPI

Angela Hammer, Brandon, MS – Allied Schools

Erica Olson, Long Beach, MS – Virginia College

NEVADA

Michelle Montalvo, Las Vegas, NV – Ashworth College

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Shannan Newton, Belmont, NH – Allied Schools

Kristie Cunan, Manchester, NH – Allied Schools

NEW JERSEY

Dawn Cuneely, Cedar Grove, NJ – Capella University

Robyn Williams, Cliffwood, NJ – Everest University

Nicole Hernandez-Pfeifer, Tuckerton, NJ – Everest University

NEW YORK

Mary Codick, Buffalo, NY – Capella University

NORTH CAROLINA

Jamie Harrington, Richlands, NC – Everest University

Nicole Sostre, Louisburg, NC – Walden University

OHIO

Celeste Chappell-Bates, Lewis Center, OH – Ashford University

Rebecca Barton, Dayton, OH – Walden University

Angela Nowak, Wadsworth, OH – Ashworth College

OREGON

Eleisa Perry, Portland, OR – Everest University

PENNSYLVANIA

Vanessa Baker, Grampian, PA – Ashworth College

SOUTH CAROLINA

Carmen Cummings, Spartanburg, SC – Walden University

TEXAS

Laura Conley, Houston, TX – Ashford University

Ingrid Smith, Humble, TX – Allied Schools

Marilyn Tanet, League City, TX – Saint Leo University

Courtney Laws, Pflugerville, TX – Virginia College

VIRGINIA

Amanda Harris, Norfolk, VA – Allied Schools

Shanika Bullock, Petersburg, VA – Allied Schools

WASHINGTON

Terra Keel, Lynnwood, WA – Allied Schools

Saray Phin, Raymond, WA – Allied Schools

Bonnie Katt, Vancouver, WA – Ashford University

Stephanie Park, Vancouver, WA – Ashworth College

Jennifer Cordle, Yakima, WA – Allied Schools

Stephanie Woodcock, Yakima, WA – Ashford University

WASHINGTON, DC

Tiara Hatchett, Washington, DC – Ashworth College

WISCONSIN

Carmen Sanchez, Racine, WI – Virginia College

More than 25,000 applications were received from adults seeking financial aid to go back to school. The eight accredited online schools participating in eLearners.com's Project Working Mom 2010 program reviewed each of the applications and selected the scholarship recipients. The applicants had to submit a short application and an essay.

"I'm ready to take this step to better educate myself. I constantly tell my children how important their education is, how it will benefit them in the future. How I want them to do and be better than myself. Today is my chance, my time to lead by example...This scholarship is so very vital to my future," said one of the scholarship recipients in her winning essay.

eLearners.com first launched Project Working Mom in 2008 to help adults get the education they need to improve their lives and the lives of their families. Now in its fourth cycle, Project Working Mom 2010 is particularly important given the current economic hardships many families face as a result of the recent recession. The program highlights a silent crisis in America - the lack of education among America's adult population and the impact education has on employment. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 70 percent of Americans aged 25 and older did not have a bachelor's degree in 2008. Equally startling, Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that Americans with only a high school diploma are twice as likely to be unemployed compared to those with a bachelor's degree.

Project Working Mom 2010 will distribute two more rounds of full-tuition scholarships this year. The two remaining deadlines for applications are April 27 and September 30. To apply applicants must:

Complete a short application at www.projectworkingmom.com.
Write an essay describing their goals, instances of triumph over adversity and why online education is an ideal match for them.

Editors Note: To arrange an interview with a scholarship recipient, a member of Project Working Mom 2010 or a member of a participating school, contact Jenny Foust at 303.433.7020, 720.244.4268 or [email protected].

About eLearners.com®

eLearners.com is one of several high visibility websites operated by EducationDynamics. Since 1999, eLearners.com has been successfully connecting learners to online education, including online degree and certificate programs, specialized career training, and a variety of online courses. For prospective students, eLearners.com provides a powerful search engine for users to find thousands of online degree program offerings, as well as educational evaluation tools and financial aid resources. eLearners.com also offers an exclusive seven-point support system, which provides guidance and resources for current and prospective online students. For online colleges and universities, the eLearners.com website offers a low-cost, performance-based method to provide national exposure and increase enrollments in their online learning programs. For more information on eLearners.com, visit http://www.eLearners.com.

About EducationDynamics

EducationDynamics is higher education's leading marketing information and technology services company dedicated to helping institutions find, enroll and retain students. Its content-rich and highly visible education websites, including EarnMyDegree.com, eLearners.com, GradSchools.com, StudyAbroad.com, and its more than 50 special interest microsites, make EducationDynamics the premier provider of qualified prospective students for colleges and universities. In addition, the company offers a full suite of Web-delivered services proven to drive enrollment growth and reduce student attrition. Through its Market Research and Advisory Services division, the company brings a decade of proprietary research, unparalleled market and student intelligence, and best practice insights to its clients. EducationDynamics is a portfolio company of Halyard Capital. For more information, visit http://www.educationdynamics.com.