– Karen Cloud, a mother of two who married her high school sweetheart out of high school and was never able to pursue her dream of attending college, has been awarded an Ashford University full-tuition scholarship as a part of Project Working Mom. 

To earn the scholarship, Cloud submitted an essay about her higher education aspirations. Her entry was selected out of more than 6,000 Ashford University applicants to the Project Working Mom scholarship program, developed by eLearners.com, a Web resource of EducationDynamics. Ashford University awarded 10 full-tuition scholarships. 

Cloud, whose father-in-law passed away soon after her husband was deployed to Iraq, now helps her mother-in-law with medical bills, housing and other daily expenses. "Between my kids, my full-time job and other family responsibilities, there has been no time or money to reach my dream of a college degree," Cloud said. 

"I have worked as a full-time refund clerk for a local hospital for almost two years. There have been many opportunities to advance with my company, but with no college degree, I do not qualify for most open positions. Online higher education will enable me to continue to work full-time and have the financial stability required for my family to survive." 

In her essay, Cloud, 32, wrote, "I knew that I did not want to follow in the footsteps of my parents who have faced many struggles in their own careers without a college degree. My interest in earning a college degree comes from my desire to broaden my knowledge base while providing more income for my family." 

She will be attending Ashford University to obtain a bachelor's degree in Health Care Administration.

Ashford University is one of eight accredited online institutions donating more than 280 full-tuition scholarships worth nearly $5 million to the Project Working Mom campaign in 2010.

Applications are now being accepted for the final round of Project Working Mom 2010; the deadline is Sept. 15. Applicants must complete a short application at www.projectworkingmom.com and write an essay describing how they will benefit from a college education. Winning applicants will be notified in October.  

About Ashford University

Founded in 1918, Ashford University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (www.ncahlc.org). The University offers graduate and undergraduate degree programs online and at its Clinton, Iowa, campus. The University is known for its high quality yet highly affordable online and on-campus programs. For more information, please visit www.ashford.edu or call Shari Rodriguez, director of Public Relations, at 858.513.9240 x2513.