For more than 20 years, Mary Remmel Wohlleb has given her time to support single parent students. She’s their No. 1 fan, and her enthusiasm is contagious.

“Y’all impress the heck out of me!” she said of ASPSF’s recipients.  “I know that it has been a struggle, that many of you come from families where you are the first to pursue higher education to improve your lives and those of your children. I find that truly remarkable.”

Bonnie Nickol (from left), Paula Rogers, Ellen Ingram, Mary Remmel Wohlleb, and Stacy Sells attend ASPSF’s first statewide event, The Lunch Break. They were instrumental in starting the Single Parent Scholarship Fund in Pulaski County.   

Over her many years with the organization, Mary has served on the Pulaski County Single Parent Scholarship Fund board of directors as its board chair for two years and chaired its Student Affairs Committee. She’s also served on the ASPSF Exceptions Committee and most recently the ASPSF Executive Director Search Committee. Currently, she volunteers on the Scholarship Committee by reviewing applications and interviewing new students. She assists with scholarship ceremonies and attends other ASPSF events. 

To honor this incredible woman — who also generously donates to the ASPSF mission — ASPSF has named her the June 2024 Volunteer of the Month and the Central Region 2024 Bonnie Nickol Volunteer of the Year.

Mary is thankful for her husband, Jim, who is her biggest supporter. 

“I have known Mary since working with the organization in 2018, and she has ensured that each student felt invited and welcomed into the program,” ASPSF Central Region Program Manager Keisha Williams said. “That support means everything to our recipients.”

Mary said that watching single parent students achieve their academic and career goals has inspired her to stay involved with ASPSF for so long.

“Interviewing students and getting to know many of them during their journeys is heartwarming. Several of our alums have become dear friends through the years,” she said. “As someone who had no trouble funding my education even through three master’s degrees, getting to know so many students without that privilege who also have children to nurture and often jobs to maintain while studying, I so admire our single parents!”

Top photo caption: Mary Remmel Wohlleb (right) receives the 2024 Bonnie Nickol Volunteer of the Year award from ASPSF Central Region Program Manager Keisha Williams at the Central Region Graduation Celebration on June 13 at the Museum of Discovery. (Photo credit: Studio 62 Inc.)