Bailey Hutcheson, a single mother who returned to college to improve her and her family’s future, has been named the 2026 Distinguished Alumna by the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund (ASPSF). The recognition, presented on September 18 during the organization’s A Day of Hope luncheon in Little Rock, honors a former recipient who has demonstrated professional success, leadership, and a dedication to supporting others.
Hutcheson is now the director of the Career Pathways program at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home (ASUMH), where she helps guide students through the same scholarship application process that once changed her life. She also volunteers with the ASPSF by conducting applicant interviews, reviewing applications, and presenting awards at ceremonies.
“I love my job because I get to help students the way that I was helped,” Hutcheson said in an interview published by ASPSF. “I get to give back what was given to me.”
Hutcheson described the challenges she faced as a nontraditional student and single parent. Returning to school while raising a young son with costly daycare expenses felt daunting, she said, but she was determined to provide more for her family and set a positive example for her children. “I did not want to be a poverty single mom anymore. I knew that there would be positive changes on the other end of the degree.”
The financial support from the ASPSF scholarship proved crucial to her success. “The Single Parent Scholarship Fund invested in me and my family and my future, and I want to see it go further into the future to help other students,” she said.
The Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to single parents pursuing education at trade schools, community colleges, and universities across the state. These awards aim to help recipients achieve self-sufficiency through education. Earlier this year, the fund raised $61,000 during its second annual Day of Giving in March.
Hutcheson actively supported that fundraising campaign, noting that many people in her network saw the impact of the scholarship on her life and felt inspired to contribute. “I think it’s an amazing organization, and I’m so honored to get to be a part of it,” she said.
Beyond her role at ASUMH, Hutcheson serves on several shared governance and special projects committees, and she has presented at the college’s Title III summer conference.
For more information about the scholarship program or to apply, visit aspsf.org.