By ELLIOT HARRIS

Staff Writer

Kathryn Darland, an incoming freshman from Ruston High School, has won the American Marketing Association's Single Parent Scholarship for the upcoming year.

Darland said she is happy and surprised to have been selected for the award.

"I'm excited," Darland said. "I didn't even know [the AMA] had that scholarship. Every little bit helps."

For the past three years, the American Marketing Association, an international professional business organization for students and experts in marketing, has been helping out single-parent students by awarding a scholarship just for them.

Tech's local student chapter has been affiliated since 1993 and has fund-raisers, professional speakers at meetings and participates in community service.

Darland also said it is nice the AMA offers the scholarship and she will "tell other people about it."

Darland plans to major in fashion merchandising and minor in entrepreneurship in the fall.

Dr. Douglas Amyx, an assistant professor of management and marketing, said requirements for the award are submitting an application form, a letter of recommendation, a transcript and a 500-word essay.

Applicants must be a business major and a single parent whose child is less than 18 years of age.

The Single Parent Scholarship is the only award the AMA gives, and Amyx said he and other members thought the scholarship was something unique but needed because there is no other offered like it.

"Being members, we saw an unmet need and thought to fulfill it," he said. "We felt it appropriate to target single-parent business students."

Darland's $300 award was conditional upon funds obtained from donations by members, individuals and the business community.

Amanda Leone, chairperson of the single-parent scholarship and a junior marketing major, said she feels the award is beneficial to the College of Administration and Business.

"There are a lot of students in the CAB who have children," Leone said. "I think it is good for them to take advantage of the award.

"Many students think they can't get help, but with opportunities such as this scholarship, they do have a chance."

Darland will receive recognition for her award at a banquet held at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the President's Dining Room, located inside the Cafeteria.