EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY AND SPECIAL EDUCATION

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Special Education

College of Education and Human Services Annual Scholarships

LEO J. BROWN TEACHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP

AWARD VALUE: Determined on an annual basis.
SELECTION CRITERIA: Junior or senior (minimum of 56 hours) in an approved Teacher Education Program undergraduate major with a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 1
CONTACT PERSON: Ms. Debbi Joseph, College of Education and Human Services, Student Services, Wham 135

ROYE R. AND FLORALEE Q. BRYANT EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP

AWARD VALUE: Determined on an annual basis.
SELECTION CRITERIA: Junior (minimum of 56 hours) in an approved Teacher Education Program undergraduate major with aspirations of becoming an administrator in education.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 1
CONTACT PERSON: Ms. Debbi Joseph, College of Education and Human Services, Student Services, Wham 135

CUMMINGS SCHOLARSHIP FUND

SPONSORED BY: Oliver Cummings Family
AWARD VALUE: Determined on an annual basis.
SELECTION CRITERIA: A graduate student holding at least a 1/4 time assistantship who demonstrates high academic achievement. In even– numbered years, the recipient will be a student in the Department of Educational Psychology and Special Education, and in odd–numbered years, the recipient will be a student in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 1
CONTACT PERSON: Even–numbered years, Dr. Lyle J. White, Chair, Educational Psychology and Special Education, Wham 223. Odd–numbered years, Dr. Bill Henk, Chair, Curriculum and Instruction, Wham 327.

TROY W. AND RICHADENE EDWARDS ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND

AWARD VALUE: Determined on an annual basis.
SELECTION CRITERIA: Preference shall be given to a student born in Williamson, Jackson, Franklin, or Saline County in Illinois. The recipient must be a junior or senior (minimum of 56 hours) in an approved Teacher Education Program undergraduate major in the College of Education and Human Services. The recipient should be involved in the student work program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The financial need of the recipient shall be considered but shall not be the single most important factor in the selection process.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 1
CONTACT PERSON: Ms. Debbi Joseph, College of Education and Human Services, Student Services, Wham 135

MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART

AWARD VALUE: Determined on an annual basis. (Non-Renewable)
SELECTION CRITERIA: Junior or senior with a dual major (75 hour minimum) in Elementary Education and Special Education with a 3.4 or better overall grade point average.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 1
CONTACT PERSON: Ms. Debbi Joseph, College of Education and Human Services Student Services, Wham 137

SPECIAL EDUCATION LEADERSHIP AND EXCELLENCE AWARD

SPONSORED BY: The Special Education Faculty
AWARD VALUE: Amount varies from $100.00 to $200.00
SELECTION CRITERIA: a) Demonstrated and documented academic performance and/or leadership on behalf of individuals with disabilities. The documentation can include letters from peers, beneficiaries, faculty, or community members. b) Demonstrated excellence in academic work. Students must have a minimum Special Education GPA of 3.25.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 1
CONTACT PERSON: Dr. Regina Foley, Educational Psychology and Special Education, Wham Education Building 223, Mailcode 4618, SIUC

Other Special Education Scholarship Opportunities

Special Education Scholarship Opportunities

Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), 1755 Lake Cook Road, Deerfield, IL 60015‑5209, 1‑800‑899‑ISAC , http://www.collegezone.com/3392_3409.htm

Merit Recognition Scholarship (MRS) Program

The Merit Recognition Scholarship (MRS) Program provides a one-time, $1,000 award (made in two payments) to qualified Illinois high school students who rank in the top 5%* of their class at the end of the third semester prior to graduation (typically as a junior in their sixth semester). This scholarship can be used for payment of tuition, fees, and other educational expenses at MAP-approved Illinois institutions. Financial need is not a factor in determining MRS recipients. This scholarship does not count as a financial resource in calculations for the need-based MAP grant; students may receive both a MAP grant and an MRS award. This program is dependent upon funding each year from the Illinois General Assembly. Only students who, based on funding levels, are reasonably assured of receiving the grant will be notified of the award.

Eligibility

An individual must:
be a United States citizen or an eligible noncitizen;
be a resident of Illinois;
rank in the top 5%* of the Illinois high school class according to the cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) at the end of the third semester prior to graduation (typically as a junior in their sixth semester)
take the ACT, SAT I, or Prairie State Achievement Exam during the third or fourth semester prior to graduation (typically between September 1 and June 30 of the junior year of high school), and receive a score in the top 5%* of all students in Illinois who take the test during the same time period;
attend a MAP-approved Illinois postsecondary institution as an undergraduate on at least a half-time basis, or attend one of the nation's four Military Service Academies;
comply with federal Selective Service registration requirements; and
claim the MRS award within one year after high school graduation, but no later than June 15 of the academic year following high school graduation (for example, an MRS recipient who graduates from high school in May 2003 must claim the award by June 15, 2004).

How To Apply

The top 5%* of seniors from all Illinois-approved high schools are automatically designated for consideration for the MRS Program. Processing steps for MRS include:

high school counselors certify each student's eligibility;
high school counselors submit all eligible students' names to ISAC; students certify the applications and submit them to the financial aid office of the MAP-approved Illinois postsecondary school they will be attending;
the financial aid office certifies eligibility and sends the application to ISAC;
ISAC sends funds to the institutions on behalf of qualified students.

* MRS funding is limited. If the volume of eligible applicants and the level of appropriated funds necessitates such action, MRS awarding may be limited to a smaller pool of students (for example, 2002-03 MRS awards were given to eligible applicants who demonstrated a class rank in the top 4% of their class or received a test score in the top 4% of all Illinois students who took the test).

Students who are planning to be preschool, elementary or secondary school teachers in Illinois may be eligible for the Illinois Future Teacher Corps (IFTC) Program (formerly the David A. DeBolt Teacher Shortage Scholarship Program). This program is generally for academically talented and financially needy students, with a priority given to individuals pursuing a teacher shortage discipline and/or making a commitment to teach in a hard to staff school, and minority students. This award is designated for tuition, fees and room and board charges, or commuter allowance, if applicable. The annual scholarship awarded to a qualified applicant may be $5,000 or $10,000 (and, in some cases, may be increased an additional $5,000) depending on the teaching commitment made.

By receiving this scholarship, the individual must teach in Illinois. If this teaching commitment is not fulfilled, the scholarship converts to a loan, and the recipient must repay the entire amount plus interest.

Eligibility, To be eligible, an applicant must:

Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen
Be a resident of Illinois
Be a high school graduate or person who has received a General Educational Development (GED) certificate
Be enrolled, or accepted for enrollment as a junior or above, on at least a half-time basis in a Teacher Education Program at an eligible Illinois public or private college, seeking initial certification; or be pursuing additional coursework needed to gain Illinois State Board of Education approval to teach, including alternative teacher certification
Apply for federal student financial aid to determine the applicant’s expected family contribution
Sign a teaching commitment and promissory note agreeing to fulfill the teaching obligation or repay funds received plus interest

How to Apply

To apply, a Teacher Education Scholarship Programs Application must be obtained by clicking here, picking it up from a college’s financial aid office, or requesting it from ISAC. For priority consideration, a complete application must be submitted to ISAC’s Deerfield office by March 1, preceding the academic year for which the applicant is applying. Applications received after that date will be given consideration for the scholarship if, after the initial round of awarding, funding remains available. Renewal applicants must submit a new application each year by the March 1 application deadline date.

Awarding Criteria

ISAC will select recipients from among the highest scoring qualified applicants on the basis of renewal applicant status, cumulative grade point average, expected family contribution, and minority student status.
The total number of scholarships awarded in a given fiscal year is contingent upon available funding

Teacher Shortage Disciplines in the State of Illinois (2003-04)

Behavioral Disordered
Bilingual Teacher (K-12)
Cross Categorical (Seeking certification in two or more areas in Special Education)
Learning Disabled
Mathematics (K-12)
Music (K-12)
Physical Education (K-12)
Science (K-12)
Speech and Language Impaired
Early Childhood Education

Click here to download the Teacher Education Scholarship Programs application.

Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program

The Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program provides scholarships to academically exceptional high school graduates who show promise of continued academic excellence. A Byrd Scholar may receive $1,500 (not to exceed the cost of attendance) for each academic year, up to a maximum of four years of study. The scholarship is not limited to tuition and fees. Awarding of Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarships is subject to federal funding.

Eligibility. An individual must:

be a United States citizen or an eligible noncitizen;
be a resident of Illinois;
become an Illinois high school graduate in the same academic year in which he or she submits the scholarship application, and must demonstrate outstanding academic achievement as measured by test scores and high school records; or have received a General Educational Development (GED) test score recognized by the General Educational Development Testing Service as the equivalent to ranking in the top 5% of high school graduates in the United States;
be enrolled or accepted for enrollment on a full-time basis as an undergraduate student; and
be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a postsecondary institution that is approved by the U.S. Department of Education to participate in federal student financial assistance programs.

Renewal Requirements

Scholarships will be awarded first to renewing scholars. A Byrd Scholar will continue to be eligible for a scholarship if the postsecondary institution at which the student is enrolled certifies that the Byrd Scholar is:

maintaining enrollment as a full-time student;
maintaining satisfactory academic progress as determined by the institution;
not in default on any student loan(s) and does not owe a refund on any state or federal grant(s); and
not receiving federal aid in excess of the student's cost of attendance as determined by the institution.

Selection Process

The high school counselor submits the names of all eligible students to ISAC. New Byrd Scholars will be selected by ISAC from among the highest scoring qualified applicants on the basis of class rank, Grade Point Average as of the end of the third semester prior to graduation from high school (typically as a junior in their sixth semester), ACT, SAT I, or Prairie State Achievement Exam scores reported as of the end of the third semester prior to graduation from high school (typically between September 1 and June 30 of the junior year), and geographic district.

Lyle E and Nedean Golliher Sparks Special Education Scholarship

This scholarship is to be awarded to a graduate student in special
education or a current teacher seeking special education
certification. Recipients must be a resident of Illinois, have a GPA
of 3.5 or higher and exhibit financial need. Applicants are to
submit a letter of application stating the nature of their current
academic program and their degree and certification objectives, an
updated copy of their graduate transcript, and provide a rationale
for their financial need for the scholarship.

Deadline for Application Materials: February 1
Send Application Materials to: Special Education Program
Coordinator; Department of Educational Psychology and Special
Education, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Carbondale, IL
62901-4618

Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver Program

The Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver Program encourages current teachers and academically talented students to pursue careers in any area of special education as a public, private or parochial elementary or secondary school teacher in Illinois. Recipients are exempt from paying tuition and fees at an eligible institution for up to four calendar years.

Eligibility, An individual must:

be a United States citizen or an eligible noncitizen;
be a resident of Illinois;
agree to take courses in a program leading to an initial teacher certification in special education;
be an Illinois high school graduate (or student scheduled to graduate from high school by the end of the school term in which the award is made) and rank in the upper half of the graduating class; or be a person holding a valid teaching certificate that is not in the discipline of special education;
be enrolled, or accepted for enrollment at one of the 12 public four-year institutions in Illinois as an undergraduate or graduate student seeking certification in any area of special education;
attend, or plan to attend, an eligible institution; and
not have received for four years, or been offered but then declined, the Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver in the past.

How to Apply

An individual must: obtain an Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver Application either from ISAC, eligible institutions or offices of Regional Superintendents of Education in Illinois or state legislative and federal congressional offices. You may download the Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver Application at this link and submit a completed application to ISAC's Deerfield office.

When to Apply

A completed application must be postmarked on or before March 1 immediately preceding the initial academic year for which the tuition waiver is being requested, in order to receive priority consideration. Once eligibility for the program has been established, completion of applications for subsequent years is unnecessary. Notice of eligibility will be sent by July 1 to each qualified applicant who is selected to receive an Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver.

Hispanic Students

The Hispanic Scholarship Fund was founded in 1975 to help Hispanic-American college students complete their education. The scholarships are available on a competitive basis for community college, four-year college, and graduate students of Hispanic heritage. Awards generally range from $1000-$5000.

The awards have varying deadlines and requirements. Complete application information and deadlines can be found at http://www.hsf.net. Please check this site at least one year in advance of enrollment as many of the scholarships have very early application deadlines.

AFRICAN AMERICAN AWARD

AWARD VALUE: Determined on an annual basis.

SELECTION CRITERIA: Applicants must be undergraduate African Americans majoring in programs housed in the College of Education and Human Services. Applicants must have at least junior standing (56 hours) and retain full–time academic status on the Carbondale campus. Applicants must demonstrate financial need, as well as provide documentation of leadership in student, professional, and community organizations.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Feb. 1

CONTACT PERSON: Ms. Debbi Joseph, College of Education and Human Services, Student Services, Wham 135

LITA HINDMAN LUEBBERS SCHOLARSHIP

AWARD VALUE: full-time tuition and fees for one year

SELECTION CRITERIA: Applicants must be Illinois residents who have an ACT of 26 and/or rank in the top 10 percent of graduating class at the end of the seventh high school semester, or they must have a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale if applying as a transfer student. Applicants must be admitted to SIUC, provide documentation of financial need, and complete a two-page typed essay entitled, “Why I Want To Be A Teacher “ or “What I Consider To Be Personal Qualities Or Characteristics Of An Effective Teacher.” Along with the completed application, two letters of recommendation from high school or college personnel who are familiar with the student’s academic work and are qualified to judge the general qualifications of the student must be submitted. (Letters are to be directed to: Dr. Keith Hillkirk, Dean.)

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 4:00 p.m., Feb. 1

CONTACT PERSON: Ms. Debbi Joseph, College of Education and Human Services, Student Services, Wham 135

GLENN "ABE" MARTIN AWARD