SAN DIEGO, June 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bridgepoint Education's Ashford University has awarded 10 full-ride online degree program scholarships to working parents from across the nation through a partnership with eLearners.com and its Project Working Mom and Dads advocacy campaign. Bridgepoint Education, Inc. (NYSE: BPI) is a provider of postsecondary education services.

"Project Working Mom...and Dads, Too!" was developed by eLearners.com, a Web resource of EducationDynamics, to help send parents back to college - tuition free - in these difficult economic times.

This latest campaign, the third in a series and the first to include fathers, received more than double the number of applications submitted in the first two rounds held in 2008 combined. More than 315,000 applications were generated, including some of the most painful, touching and inspiring essays as part of the process. With five online universities and colleges participating, Ashford University was chosen by more than 41 percent of the applicants, accounting for nearly 130,000 applications.

"The overwhelming response to this scholarship opportunity and the stories of sacrifice and determination from the applicants have been a stark reminder of the struggles parents face in balancing life, work and school and how online education helps people achieve their goals," Jane McAuliffe, president and chief executive officer of Ashford University said.

Ashford University faculty members spent hundreds of hours reviewing applications, resulting in 10 deserving recipients receiving the life-changing call.

Four of the scholarship winners reside in California. They include Erin Buck from Vacaville, Clara Galvan from Alta Loma, Donna Perry from Los Angeles and Cecilia Portugal from Daly City. Richard Shields of Longmont, Colorado, and Gail Kenny from Prescott Valley, Arizona, are also Western states winners.

Two of the scholarship recipients are from Maryland. They include Agaba Bisengo from Silver Spring and Terry Satchell from Easton. Michael Kurilovitch from Niagra Falls, New York, and Jacklyn Schmetzer from Ashburn, Virginia, round out the list of Eastern states winners.

Ashford University's full-ride, tuition-free scholarships are for online degree programs ranging from associate's to the doctorate level. Collectively, the scholarships total nearly $500,000.

"The escalating interest in this campaign illustrates the importance of higher education to working parents across America," said McAuliffe. "Online higher education provides working parents with flexibility in earning their degrees."

"As a working mom myself, I am proud to impact these scholarship recipients in a positive way," said McAuliffe. "What gives me the most satisfaction is knowing that each of these winners has a child who will experience a parent bettering themselves by earning his or her college education. These winners are role models."

About Bridgepoint Education

Based in San Diego, California, Bridgepoint Education was founded on the principle that anyone who is academically prepared deserves access to higher education without sacrificing quality, transferability of credits, accessibility, academic standards, or credentials. As an independent, private higher education company, Bridgepoint is committed to serving the millions of adults seeking an affordable alternative to high priced higher education. Bridgepoint Education subsidiaries provide both traditional and online education offerings, in addition to recruiting and admissions services. The organization's comprehensive education services have helped thousands of students improve their lives and careers through higher education. For more information, please visit www.bridgepointeducation.com or contact Shari Rodriguez, Director of Public Relations, at 858.668.2586 x2513.

About Ashford University

Founded in 1918, Ashford University is a coeducational institution regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, with programs in education, business, accounting, criminal and social justice, computer animation and graphic design, and other areas. The University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as a range of student activities and athletics, at its Clinton campus. Online degree programs are available in education, organizational management, business administration, and psychology. The University is known for its high quality yet highly affordable on-campus and online programs, with tuition fees among the lowest in the U.S. compared to other private institutions. Its tagline is: "Higher Education Made Affordable"SM. For more information, please visit www.ashford.edu or contact Shari Rodriguez, Director of Public Relations, at 858.513.9240 x2513.

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 program offerings, as well as educational evaluation tools and financial aid resources. For 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.

SOURCE: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

Web site: http://www.bridgepointeducation.com/
http://www.ashford.edu/
http://www.eLearners.com/