Additional Funding Opportunities

The Rachel Sleichter Scholarship for Teaching Excellence was established in 2022. Rachel graduated in the spring of 2022 with her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Elementary Education from the College of Education and Human Development. This scholarship honors Rachel's dedication and persistence, and supports aspiring teachers. This scholarship is awarded annually to a undergraduate or graduate student who is pursuing a degree in teaching, specific to K-12 education.

Applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered for this scholarship:

• Undergraduate or graduate student (full or part-time)
• GPA of 2.75 or higher
• Must be pursuing a degree in teaching, specific to K-12 Education
• Demonstrated financial need and academic merit

This scholarship is coordinated by the George Mason University Alumni Association. Please view their website for additional information. Questions can be directed to Fermina Mejia-Green at fmejiagr@gmu.edu.

The Teachers of Promise Institute seeks to identify and recognize the best prospective teachers from college and university Schools of Education from across Virginia. The goal of The Institute is to celebrate the calling to teach, to elevate the teaching profession to the status it deserves, and to activate participants to navigate their true potential. The Institute features a wide range of activities, including small mentor group sessions, concurrent workshops, and keynote addresses. The event is usually in early March and is held in Richmond, Virginia.

CEHD provides funds to cover registration, lodging, and accommodations for 5 students. Students will also receive a medal of recognition for participating and representing CEHD at the Teachers of Promise closing ceremony.

Faculty are encouraged to select a student from their perspective program who models high professional and personal standards and demonstrates enthusiasm for the teaching profession. Nominations are open to undergraduate and graduate students.

The Virginia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (VACTE) is comprised of institutions of higher education in Virginia that prepare teachers and other school professionals for work in classrooms in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Nation.

VACTE provides leadership on issues related to professional education, with primary focus on teacher education and promotes effective public policy regarding professional education, enhances and improves professional education programs at member institutions, and enhances the professional effectiveness of members.

Every year the VACTE offers two distinguished award to CEHD student:

1. VACTE Initial Teacher Licensure Scholarship ($1500)
   Nominations will be taken through the office of Student and Academic Affairs via online nomination form. A review committee comprised of program faculty and program advisors will review nominations and select a winners. The award will be announced in early December with the funds awarded at that time. Recipients will be recognized at the VACTE spring meeting.
   

   While CEHD may submit only ONE nomination, programs may submit more than one nomination. Nominees must meet the criteria listed below:

   • Nominee must be a student fully admitted to a teacher education program granting initial licensure. Both graduate and undergraduate students are eligible for consideration.
   • Nominee must have prior or current experience in working with children or young adults.
   • Nominee must have demonstrated a high level of scholarship in previous studies (a 3.2 GPA or higher).
   • Nominee must come from an institution that is a member of VACTE in good standing. Membership dues must be paid before the nominee will be moved through the application process. Institutions will be notified of their membership status.
2. VACTE Advanced Preparation Scholarship($1500)
   

   Nominations will be taken through the office of Student and Academic Affairs via online nomination form. A review committee comprised of program faculty and program advisors will review nominations and select a winners. The award will be announced in early December with the funds awarded at that time. Recipients will be recognized at the VACTE spring meeting.

   While CEHD may submit only ONE nomination, programs may submit more than one nomination. Nominees must meet the criteria listed below:

   • Nominee must be a LICENSED teacher, fully admitted to a graduate education program leading to an endorsement in advanced studies, including, but not limited to Reading Specialist, Math Specialist, and Administration and Supervision.
   • Nominee must have demonstrated a high level of scholarship in their graduate studies (a 3.5 GPA or higher).
   • Nominee must come from an institution that is a member of VACTE in good standing. Membership dues must be paid before the nominee will be moved through the application process. Institutions will be notified of their membership status.

Nominations are made using an online form. Filling out the nomination form in its entirety is extremely important.

The Virginia Scholars Award was established in 1997 by the IOTA (VA) State Organization of Delta Kappa Gamma. Delta Kappa Gamma is an international society that promotes excellence in education.

Below is the suggested criteria for selection of nominees:

• Classroom performance/grades/GPA
• Employment experience
• Practicum/student teaching performance
• Community/extracurricular activities
• Character traits commensurate with teaching profession
• Overall potential in the field of education

The primary purpose of the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program (VTSLP) is to provide financial support to students who are pursuing a teaching career in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Scholarship recipients may fulfill the teaching obligation by teaching in the public schools of the Commonwealth in the first full academic year after becoming eligible for a renewable teaching license in the appropriate endorsement area and teaching for at least two years* in a school division:

• In one of the critical teacher shortage disciplines as established by the Board of Education; or
• In a Virginia public school or program with 50 percent or more of the students eligible for free or reduced price lunch; or
• In a school division designated critical shortage subject area, as defined in the Board of Education's Regulations Governing the Determination of Critical Teacher Shortage Areas.

Subject to available funding, Scholarship amounts are based on $10,000 per year for full-time students and shall be prorated for part-time students based on the number of credit hours.

Teacher candidates who previously received funding through the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program are not eligible.

Applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered for this scholarship:

• Maintained a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent.
• Nominated for such scholarship by the institution where they are enrolled.
• Be a resident in the Commonwealth of Virginia with plans to teach in the Commonwealth.

The Office of Student and Academic Affairs often receives the VTSLP award information from the Virginia Department of Education in July. Once we receive the information, we send out the application to all eligible students in the college. Once the application deadline passes, a George Mason review committee meets to select final nominees, whose applications are then sent on to the VDOE. The VDOE makes the final decision as to whether our George Mason nominees will be awarded.