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Aspire Scholarship Program

About Us

One of the best weapons to combat poverty is through education

National and state statistics show that there are a significant number of single parent families living at or below the poverty level in Jasper and Newton Counties. The majority are headed by individuals with only a high school education. With limited education, single parents have a difficult time finding professional jobs, and without good jobs they can’t adequately care for their families. Therefore many become dependent on government assistance. One of the best weapons to combat poverty is through education.

Our History

The Aspire Scholarship Program was created in 2010 and provides incentive scholarships to qualified, low-income, single parents who are pursuing a professional degree at a college, university, or technical school. The goal is to help them attain an education, graduate, and obtain well-paid, skilled employment, thus breaking the cycle of poverty and creating a brighter economic future for their family.

What To Learn More About Aspire?

Quick Read

Read what Bryan Vowels, CFP, CFA, Founding Partner of True North Financial and founder of Aspire has to say about Aspire and its mission. This brief Q&A will help explain why this program exists.

Become A Sponsor

The Aspire Scholarship Program offers a chance to empower deserving single parents through financial support for their education. By becoming a sponsor, you can make a meaningful impact, helping to break down financial barriers and unlock potential for the next generation of leaders. Your investment in education today will inspire hope and pave the way for a brighter future in our communities. Join us in this mission to make a difference!

Sponsor
Doctoral
Master's

Lance & Sharon Beshore Family Foundation Fund

Matt & Amanda Fry

Bachelor's

Sandy & Jeffrey Huffman

Dot Wilcoxon

Associate's

Beverly & Ken Block 

Lynda Homa

Merit

Max & JoAnn Vowels

Jeremy & Lenora Clouse

Nicki Lopez

Jonathan Garard

Clifford & Pamela Wert

Board of Directors

Todd Taylor
Executive Director
I'm Todd Taylor, the Executive Director of the Aspire Board. I'm deeply passionate about our mission to help single parents continue their college education. I am excited to contribute my experience in fundraising, community outreach, and program development to further our impact on the community. I look forward to working in our community to achieve shared goals and make a meaningful difference through our work. I hope that the Aspire Scholarship Program continues to help many single parents. If you have any questions, please let me know. Sincerely, Todd Taylor
Melissa Smith
President
I have been a board member with the Aspire Scholarship Program for four years, serving as President the last two. I have worked in higher education for the past 24 years I am passionate about helping students reach their educational goals of pursuing a degree so they can improve the trajectory of not only their lives but the lives of their children. I whole heartedly believe in the mission of this organization and have personally witnessed the invaluable impact this scholarship provides for students.
Richard Winesburg
Treasurer
I have served on the Aspire board since 2019 and currently serve as the board Treasurer. I am the President of Arvest Bank and have worked in the banking industry for 36 years. I believe in financial education and am passionate to see individuals accomplish their goals. Serving on the Aspire board has allowed me to work with students and invest in them and their future. I believe Aspire is truly making a difference in people's lives now and for future generations.
Joani Zibert
Board Member
Joani Zibert is the Director of Grants at Crowder College, a school founder, former school board president, and previously a Director of Education Law and Policy Development. She has 16 years of education expertise in school development, governance, and operations across multiple states. She is dedicated to improving educational outcomes in elementary, secondary, and post-secondary education organizations and is passionate about fostering new opportunities for single parents through the Aspire Scholarship Foundation.
Del Camp
Board Member
Del Camp is a Licensed Professional Counselor. Mr. Camp has a Master’s Degree in Psychology, clinical emphasis, From Pittsburg State University, and has been licensed as a professional counselor since 2000. He is also a qualified substance use counselor, having provided substance abuse services full time from 1993-2005. He began practicing behavioral health in Yellowstone National Park. He has been employed with Ozark Center for 31 years, and currently serves as the Chief Clinical Officer. He enjoys research and most recently investigated the use of AI in the delivery of cognitive behavioral therapy.
Nicki Lopez
Board Member
Nicki is a Workplace Strategist at Grooms Office Environments, where she helps organizations create thoughtful, efficient workspaces that support both people and productivity. With a strong focus on leadership and community, Nicki is also a member of Leadership Joplin, actively engaging in initiatives that build a stronger future for the region. As a board member of the Aspire Scholarship Program, Nicki is passionate about supporting individuals who are driven to grow, lead, and overcome barriers. She brings a unique perspective rooted in real-world experience, and is honored to be part of a program that empowers others to realize their potential.
Chris Mitchell
Board Member
Chris is the Student Disabilities Coordinator and Academic Success Coach at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, MO. He is a lifelong member of the Joplin community, serving in public education for 28 years as a teacher, coach, school counselor, and building administrator. He has a great interest in helping people achieve through education. He watched his father work three jobs to put his mother through school to become a registered nurse while raising two children. That education had a generational impact. Chris invests his time to assist others who, like his parents, desire to work hard to achieve their ambitions.
Megan Long
Board Member
Megan attended Crowder College and MSSU on basketball scholarships, where her love of sports and community began to flourish. Megan and her husband raised their five incredible children in Webb City and have enjoyed traveling the country supporting their athletic journeys—from high school gyms to college stadiums and even professional arenas. They are also proud grandparents. Megan spent many years as a high school teacher and coach, later expanding her career into both nonprofit and corporate sectors. Today, she is a dedicated entrepreneur and the owner of two thriving, women-owned businesses: Forged Waterjet Fabrications and an American Family Insurance agency.