The EducationDegree.com Emerging Leader in Education Scholarship is Now Closed
Our nation’s school systems are where self-discovery, inspiration, creativity, invention, and brilliance are born, and educators are among the lucky few who get a front-row seat to this magic in the making.
Maybe you want to teach in ECE or elementary classrooms where the youngest students begin their learning journey… in middle school or high school where kids begin to cultivate their own interests and propensities…or at the post-secondary level where adult learners look to broaden their horizons and forge a definitive path for themselves, a degree in education comes with outstanding opportunities to inform, inspire, and change lives.
For anybody that has the kind of unwavering dedication it takes to become a teacher, we want to help you along the way as you either enter the field with a pre-licensure degree, or advance with a master’s.
Update
The application window is now closed.
Who is Eligible to Apply?
Any recently accepted or currently enrolled student in a CAEP (NCATE or TEAC)-accredited bachelor’s or master’s level pre-licensure initial teacher preparation program, or current teacher earning secondary endorsements or advanced licensure through an accredited master’s.
All current undergraduate and graduate students who have completed at least one semester/quarter must provide proof of having a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 in their program so far.
All recently accepted undergraduate or graduate students must provide proof of being accepted into a qualifying program. Bachelor’s students must provide proof of having a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.5, or a 3.5 in their associate’s degree if transferring in credits from a two-year program.
All recently accepted graduate students must provide proof of being accepted into a qualifying graduate program and must provide proof of having a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.5.
Scholarship Application Requirements
You will need to submit just two things to meet the scholarship application requirements:
- Complete application form with verifiably true and accurate information
- 100% original essay that addresses the topic described below (2,500 words or less)
If your essay is selected, we will contact you using the email you provide on the application and request the following documentation to verify you meet the eligibility requirements:
- Proof of enrollment or acceptance in a qualifying post-secondary program (letter of acceptance or another verifiable document with university letterhead)
- Proof of meeting minimum GPA requirements (transcript summary or another verifiable document with university letterhead)
Any false or inaccurate information on the application form or plagiarized content on the essay would be grounds for immediate disqualification.
Essay Topic
Tell us about your path to a career in education and why you chose it. Maybe you had one of those amazing teachers that brought so much love and compassion to their work that it inspired you to want to be a teacher one day too… maybe overcoming your own struggles with learning motivated your decision to enter the field to help others with similar challenges… or perhaps your greatest joy is sharing the subject you love so much through the act of helping others appreciate it too, whether it’s science or literature or even music.
In 2,500 words or less, tell us who or what inspired you to devote your life’s work to educating others.
Selecting the Winner
Our staff will review all applications and essays that meet the basic requirements and select a winner based strictly on the strength of the essay.
The essay topic is all about your personal experience and your own subjective thoughts and opinions. So naturally, there is some subjectivity to our selection process. This means that everyone with a qualifying GPA who is enrolled in or has been accepted to a qualifying program has an equal shot at winning, regardless of background, employment history, or extracurriculars. We feel this is the most equitable way to approach the selection process.
We know that all applicants are worthy of the award, but we’re limited to choosing just one winner per year.
Announcing the Winner
We will start by contacting the winner by phone or email to deliver the good news. At that time, we will ask for proof of current enrollment and transcripts covering the period of time that passed since submitting the application.
If the selected recipient is unable to supply the required documentation, or if the GPA has dropped below 3.5 since submitting the application, we reserve the right to rescind the award and give it to another applicant.
We will ask the winner to provide a picture of themselves along with a few words that we will publish right here on EducationDegree.com.
We will then make our official announcement to share the good news with our readers.
Non-Discrimination Policy
EducationDegree.com does not discriminate based on age, race, sex, religion, disability status or sexual orientation. All qualified applicants are given equal consideration and are assessed strictly based on the strength of their essay. It is at the sole discretion of our staff to select the applicant we feel best exemplifies the traits and values of a great educator.