Spring 2026 Winner of the Renewed Horizons Scholarship

Anthony Crocker

Anthony Crocker is the Spring 2026 award recipient of the Renewed Horizons Scholarship. Anthony, a single father, is earning a graduate degree in social work at Arizona State University. We are thrilled to see all that Anthony will accomplish!

Read Their Essay Here:

My name is Anthony Crocker. I was born and raised in Yuma, Arizona. I am the only boy of five sisters, which meant growing up in my house was always full of noise, activity, and sometimes chaos. Many of my childhood memories consist of constant fighting between my parents. They divorced when I was eight years old, and as a child I didn’t fully understand why. Unaware of how life as an adult works, I took out all my pain on my mom. I thought she was the reason why I didn’t have my dad with me anymore. I never once questioned why my dad did what he did. For me, it was just easier to be angry at someone than to face the hurt. I felt torn between two parents, not knowing where I really belonged.

As I grew older, I was eventually able to forgive both of my parents. It took years, and it wasn’t easy. I went through my own struggles with addiction, run-ins with the law, and even time in jail and rehab before I was finally able to let go of all the pain from my childhood. Those were some of the darkest years of my life, but they also shaped who I am today. At the age of 23, I had my first child—a beautiful daughter who became a blessing in the middle of the chaos I was living through. From the moment I held her in my arms, I knew I wanted to give her the life I never had.

I wanted her to grow up in a home with two parents, so I did everything I could to keep my relationship together. I worked hard, upgraded to a bigger house, and tried to be more sensitive and understanding of what my partner was dealing with. For a while, things seemed good. My daughter was only a couple of months old, and our relationship felt strong—we were friends who laughed together, talked, and celebrated the new life that had been born to us.

That changed the day I received messages from someone I used to know. The messages contained pictures, sent from my girlfriend’s phone to another man. I was devastated. As I read through the messages, I realized she had been meeting him regularly, around the same time we celebrated her son’s fourth birthday. When I confronted her, she lied and said it was a long time ago. But her son only had one fourth birthday, and that was not long ago. That day, I packed all my things and left.

From there, my life took a different direction. I went to court and fought for custody of my daughter. After her mother got into a car crash with my daughter in the car, leaving her injured and not taking her to the hospital. I picked her up myself and made sure she was cared for. Her mother had fallen into alcohol abuse and at one point admitted to wanting to take her own life. The judge gave me custody, and I became a single father.

My daughter is now seven years old and in second grade. I couldn’t be more proud of the young lady she is becoming. She is in gymnastics and loves it completely. The bond between us is strong and special, unlike anything I have ever experienced. I have nurtured her, guided her, and learned so much about myself because of her. She often sees me doing my homework, and sometimes she sits next to me with her own assignments. She tells me that when she grows up, she wants to be an art teacher or a police officer. Other times she says she wants to be a gymnast like Simone Biles or even a YouTuber. No matter what path she chooses, I encourage her and remind her that she is capable of achieving anything.

Looking back at my childhood, I realize how much I needed support, love, and encouragement to explore my own interests. Instead, I was dealing with the stress of my parents’ divorce and my own unhealthy ways of coping. While those experiences were painful, they also gave me perspective. They showed me what not to do as a parent, and they helped me understand the kind of father I want to be. I can say without a doubt that becoming a parent is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. The life I live today is not even recognizable compared to the person I used to be.

My daughter is also the reason I went back to school. After a rollover accident left me with a hand injury, I was laid off from my job. That experience made me realize how easily replaceable I was in the workforce. I wanted more stability, and I wanted a career where I could make a difference while also being present for my daughter. I decided education was the best way forward.

I started college when my daughter was only two or three years old. Since then, I have earned my Associate’s degree, my Bachelor’s degree, and I am now pursuing my Master’s in Social Work. My goals are simple but important: to be the very best father I can be, and to build a career where I can give back to my community. Education, research, and service are all ways I continue to improve myself. Once I graduate, I plan to become financially stable and create the best environment possible for my daughter.

This has not been an easy journey. There were many times I wasn’t sure how things would work out. As a single father, I have faced challenges that at times felt overwhelming. But in those moments, I turned to God. He was often the only one I could talk to, and my faith has carried me through. I trusted Him, and I took a leap of faith by pursuing this path. Today, I can look back and see how far I’ve come, and I am thankful for every step.

My mother and father, despite their struggles, have also been a huge support system for me and for my daughter. They remind me that even though life can be difficult, family and perseverance make a difference. Receiving this scholarship would not only ease the financial burden of my education, it would also allow me to continue being an example to my daughter. I want her to see that no matter where you come from, no matter the mistakes you’ve made, you can still build a life of purpose, service, and hope.