The University of Scranton (US), a U.S. News & World Report-ranked and regionally accredited university, in partnership with University Alliance and Bisk Education, recently awarded four scholarships to educators who have made a significant difference in the lives of their students.
The University of Scranton would like to congratulate the Bisk Foundation Teacher Education Scholarship winners for the Special Summer 2011, Part B session:
Ms. Garcia understands the value of an education and passes that along to the many at-risk students she teaches and mentors. Her co-workers describe her as “a compassionate, capable professional who is committed to providing exemplary educational opportunities for at-risk students.” Ms. Garcia also has a strong spirit of volunteerism and has given her time to several organizations that help the disadvantaged. She believes that earning a master’s in Educational Administration will allow her to make a greater difference by influencing and developing other teachers.
As the first in her family to attend college, Ms. Joyner can identify with the challenges that students face as they step out and take advantage of opportunities their families may never have had. She recalls a particular student who professed a complete dislike for school and learning. By the end of the school year, he had “fallen in love with school” and today, he dreams of going to college to help kids like him, because of Ms. Joyner’s influence. Ms. Joyner says, “These students are…much more than [my job], they are my joy! My life is richer because of them.” Her passion is evident in her students’ achievement and in the fact that she was named Teacher of the Year for her school and System Teacher of the Year.
Ms. Kontos believes that “small efforts can yield huge results.” She recalls a 19 year-old student who joined her ninth grade English class. This student had a history of drug abuse and lacked confidence as well as social and academic skills. After traditional methods didn’t work, Ms. Kontos employed some creative solutions and soon saw an improvement in the student’s attendance and grades. The student passed the class and went on to earn her GED. According to one of Ms. Kontos’s school administrators, “she has a special talent for meeting the needs of even the most difficult students,” and, “has proven to be one of the best teachers I have ever…had the good fortune to work alongside.”
Mr. Maher says that “teaching young kids takes a certain patience and passion to want to help them succeed” and that realizing what a difference he is making in their lives “is a continual motivation that you carry with you forever.” Mr. Maher recalls a student who started in his second grade class reading below a first grade level. With intensive intervention and his determination to do everything he could to help her move on to third grade, Mr. Maher and his student were both thrilled when she worked her way up to a third grade reading level before the end of the school year. He looks forward to becoming a principal for the opportunities it will give him to positively impact his students, staff, and community.
“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 to help foster their continued success.”
The University of Scranton offers 100% online programs designed to provide students with the flexibility of 24/7 access to courses. The university’s video-based e-learning model with interactive communication means that no campus visits are required. With the availability of at least two scholarships per session for new students, this is an excellent time for educators to consider pursuing a master’s degree online.
These scholarships help working teachers excel in today’s academic environment by earning a Master of Science in Education: Curriculum and Instruction or a Master of Science in Education: Educational Administration. Students in the Curriculum and Instruction degree program gain valuable skills to strengthen their classroom teaching, while students in the Educational Administration program learn proven techniques for managing complex school environments.
For the Special Summer 2011, Part B session, the scholarship is valued at 25% of the 2011-2012 tuition cost. Scholarship recipients enrolled in the Curriculum and Instruction program will receive $3,645 and those enrolled in the Educational Administration program will receive $3,948.75. Recipients will receive these special tuition rates through graduation as long as they remain an active student in good academic and financial standing in one of US’s video-based, e-learning degree programs.
Scholarship applicants must meet the following criteria:
The deadline to apply for the next Bisk Foundation Teacher Education Scholarship for the Special Fall 2011, Part B session is October 2, 2011. Bisk Education is looking forward to offering scholarships for new The University of Scranton students enrolled in future sessions. Contact a program representative at 800-605-5346 or visit http://www.uscranton.com/graduate-scholarships-teachers.asp for details.
The Bisk Foundation Teacher Education Scholarship program, committed to developing outstanding educators, launched in August 2010. Since its inception, 12 students have received a total of more than $52,000 in scholarship funds. The scholarship program is ongoing with two recipients selected for each of the following sessions: Fall B, Spring B, Summer A, and Summer B.
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 Master’s 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.