Date: April 25, 2006
Contact: Lindsay Gladstone
Governors State University
Phone: (708) 534-7090
Fax: (708) 534-8399
Email: l-gladstone@govst.edu
For Immediate Release
April 25, University Park - It is a widely understood that a college education is invaluable. It is also well known that a university education comes with a price tag that can place it out of reach for many deserving students.
In an effort to make education more accessible and affordable and to train bright and capable teachers for high school classrooms, the Teacher Quality Enhancement Partnership at Governors State University is offering full one-year scholarships to at least two students from each of the following community colleges: Moraine Valley Community College, Joliet Junior College, Prairie State College, South Suburban College, and Kankakee Community College.
The TQE scholarships pay tuition and fees for the 2006-2007 academic year for qualified 2006 graduates of these community colleges who enter secondary education programs in biology, chemistry, English, or mathematics at GSU.
“These scholarships encourage students to continue their educations to become high school teachers. The Teacher Quality Enhancement Partnership helps train more capable and effective teachers,” explains Cheryl Hague, Teacher Quality Enhancement Grant Recruitment Coordinator. “We provide support and resources to teachers in training so they are better able to succeed when they reach high school classrooms. When teachers are supported and successful, their students benefit and learn.”
Scholarship requirements include a 3.5 cumulative GPA, acceptance into a secondary education program at GSU, a 500-word essay explaining the student’s philosophy of education as it pertains to working in a high needs secondary school, and two letters of recommendation from instructors or advisors. Scholarship recipients are required to work a minimum of one year in a high needs school upon completion of their secondary teacher certification requirements.
“We are hoping to offer financial support at the same time we are providing educational support to our teachers in training,” says Hague. “Our goal is to help create quality, qualified high school teachers. These scholarships help us do that.”
The Teacher Quality Enhancement Partnership is supported by a grant from the United States Department of Education. The scholarship application deadline is June 1, 2006. For more information or to submit an application packet, contact Cheryl Hague, Recruitment Coordinator, Governors State University, College of Arts and Sciences, University Park, IL or call (708) 534-4587.
