The University of Scranton, a U.S. News & World Report-ranked and regionally accredited university, in partnership with University Alliance and Bisk Education, recently awarded four scholarships – valued at more than $4,000 each – to educators who have made a significant difference in the lives of their students. These scholarships help working teachers excel in today’s academic environment by earning an MS in Curriculum and Instruction or an MS in Educational Administration through The University of Scranton’s 100% online video-based, e-learning degree programs.
The University of Scranton would like to congratulate the Bisk Foundation Scholarship winners for the Special Fall 2011, Part A session:
Colleen Egan teaches life skills and provides learning support for special needs high school students. She recalls a particular student she helped who had moved to her school from Puerto Rico. He spoke no English, could not read in English or Spanish, and was mentally disabled. Despite not speaking Spanish, Ms. Egan taught him to read, write and use basic math. Today, the student now aspires to attend vocational school after graduation to learn a trade. “My students make a difference in my life and help me grow as a person and an educator. I have made a difference in the lives of many students and plan to do so for years to come,” says Ms. Egan.
As a devoted teacher and volunteer, Jenna Gruber “believes that the most influential teachers are those who not only invest in their students’ education but also in their students’ lives, which is what I strive to accomplish.” She embodies that belief in the work she does with her students by spending countless extra hours with them to make sure that they have the skills they need to be successful. Ms. Gruber, who also believes that people can make a difference through any kind of service in which they invest themselves, has also provided humanitarian aid to people in her local community as well as in foreign countries.
Teaching in a low-income school inspired Heather Jones to pursue a career in educational administration. At the beginning of the school year, about 75% of her fifth grade students were unable to read third grade sight words. Ms. Jones dedicated weekends and evenings towards her goal of getting her students reading on grade level. Along the way, she helped her students cope with a range of social and family issues as well. By the end of the year, her students met the district goal to make Adequate Yearly Progress. She saw firsthand what a difference highly skilled administrators can make in a socioeconomically challenged school. Ms. Jones is aiming to become a school principal so that she can change the lives of students in low-income school districts. Earning a master’s degree in educational administration will help her achieve her goal to “make a difference in the lives of all of the students I come into contact with.”
Anna Porretta realized that she missed her calling as a teacher when she dropped her daughter off for her first day of school in kindergarten. Despite her very demanding career at the time, Ms. Porretta went back to school and earned a Bachelor of Elementary Education degree and Reading Certification. She began her career as a teacher eight years ago and now works daily with eight different groups of students who require remedial instruction in literacy and mathematics. She is also a member of several school committees and serves as a mentor for other teachers. Ms. Porretta says, “I hope to continue to make a difference for my students by pursuing a Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction to increase the effectiveness of my instruction and perhaps… enhance our curriculum district-wide.”
“On behalf of The University of Scranton, I would like to congratulate the scholarship winners,” said W. Jeffrey Welsh, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Graduate and Continuing Education at The University of Scranton. “The University of Scranton is proud to honor outstanding educators and help to foster their continued success.”
The Bisk Foundation Teacher Education Scholarship program, committed to developing outstanding educators, launched in August 2007. Since its inception, 30 students have received a total of more than $113,000 in scholarship funds. Scholarship recipients enrolled in the Curriculum and Instruction program will receive $4,077 and those enrolled in the Educational Administration program will receive $4,416.75.
The deadline to apply for the next Bisk Foundation Scholarship for the Special Spring 2012, Part A session is December 1, 2011. Contact a program representative at 800-605-5346 or visit http://www.uscranton.com/graduate-scholarships-teachers for further details and application criteria.
About The University of Scranton
Nestled in the Pocono Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania, The University of Scranton was founded in 1888 and has been educating students in the Jesuit tradition since 1942. It is consistently ranked among the top 10 regional universities in the North by U.S. News & World Report. The University of Scranton is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) as well as the Commission of Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The College of Graduate and Continuing Education is accredited by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
About Bisk Education, Inc.
Founded in 1971, Bisk Education is the world’s leading provider of professional education online. The University Alliance (UA), a division of Bisk, facilitates the promotion and online delivery of associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees as well as professional certificate programs from the nation’s leading traditional universities and institutions. Powered by UA’s technology and support services, our university partners have surpassed 450,000 online enrollments – making UA the largest facilitator of e-learning in the country. University partners include Villanova University, the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business, the University of San Francisco, the University of Vermont, Florida Institute of Technology, The University of Scranton, Jacksonville University and Dominican University. U.S. News University Directory, part of the Bisk network, provides comprehensive and unbiased information on more than 2,000 academic institutions directly from U.S. News & World Report, the most trusted source for college and university rankings since 1983.