Passion, inspiration and gratitude were just a few of the emotions students expressed at the fifth annual Sponsor a Future Teacher Scholarship Awards Dinner. on Feb. 23. PIE, a university and community partnership dedicated to supporting excellence in education, awarded 17 scholarships of $5,000 to teacher candidates working on their first credential. Jamie Class, a recipient, says the scholarship is crucial for the success of credential students, who spend a quarter working in the classrooms.
“We learn lesson plans [and] classroom management styles, and find our voice in the classroom,” Class says. “This scholarship is everything.”
Because students continue to pay tuition fees but are not recompensed for their work in the classroom, many take on a full-time job to offset costs of living. The PIE scholarship allows future teachers to focus on teaching.
PIE chairwoman Sue Johnson says it’s important to support young teachers because they are the next generation of education leaders.
“There is a critical need for educators who really care about the teaching profession,” Johnson says. “These leaders are the best of the best.”
Applicants were required to demonstrate financial need, as well as their passion and motivation for teaching.
Sarah Dick, who aspires to become a high school agriculture teacher, spoke about her own experience in high school. She spent as much time with her agriculture teacher as with her family, and said she hopes to provide the same rewarding experience for her students.
“This scholarship is the best thing that’s happened to me all year,” she says.