Educators Rising Scholarship

HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

Four-year scholarship

Criteria for application includes that the student must:

1. Have a GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or be in the top half of his/her class as of January of the year of application.        
2. Be a student in a South Dakota public education institution.     
3. Be an active member in a South Dakota Educators Rising Chapter.
4. Be accepted and/or enrolled in a South Dakota college or university with a School of Education.
5. Participate in local and statewide Educators Rising activities.

* Special consideration will be given to students who have volunteered to assist with SDEA activities.

The following attachments must be included with the application form:

1. A copy of the applicant’s high school transcript.
2. A listing of the applicant’s academic, extra-curricular and volunteer activities.
3. Letters of recommendation from at least two teachers and one from a counselor or administrator employed by their high school.  
4. A 300–500 word essay by the applicant on the strengths and skills the applicant will bring to the field of education.

A scholarship recipient must, prior to July 1, enroll in the SDEA/NEA Aspiring Educators Program and submit their membership number to SDEA/NEA.

Scholarship money will be awarded to the college or university the student is enrolled in prior to the start of the fall semester if the recipient has met all of the criteria.

A recipient of the scholarship will have the award extended for another academic year provided that he or she has:

1. Been a full-time student.
2. Maintained at least a 2.5 grade point average.
3. Maintained membership in SDEA/NEA Aspiring Educator Program.
4. Participated in SDEA Aspiring Educators local and statewide events.
5. Been accepted into a College of Education prior to the beginning of their third year of post- secondary schooling.

* Special consideration will be given to students who actively participate and/or volunteer to assist with SDEA/NEA events.

Completed applications and attachments must be submitted by February 15 of the student’s senior year.