Paul Bell, a full-time father of two who works multiple jobs to support his family while attending classes online, has been awarded an Ashford University full-tuition scholarship as a part of Project Working Mom. 

To earn the scholarship, Bell submitted an essay about his higher education aspirations. His entry was selected out of more than 12,000 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. 

Bell, who also has more than 12 years of experience in chemical sales, owned a successful commercial mortgage brokerage business before the Florida real estate market crashed and he was forced to file bankruptcy. "I had several developers I worked with, but due to the credit market fallout, I was forced out of business," Bell said.

"One of the reasons I want to return to school is that being a 42-year-old without a college degree really hurts my marketing potential for employment. The second reason is to show my children the importance of an education and to never give up on their dreams."

In his essay, Bell wrote, "I believe in the American dream of being able to accomplish your dreams with hard work and perseverance." He explained that by having a degree, he could gain employment with a company that would not give him a chance otherwise.

He will be attending Ashford University in the spring to obtain a bachelor's degree in Finance.

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, associate vice president of Public Relations, at 858.513.9240 x2513.