Baltimore County schools Superintendent Joe A. Hairston is scheduled tomorrow to award the system's second annual round of scholarship loans to three graduating seniors who are aspiring teachers.

The program, which I wrote about last year, is based on a "grow your own" concept. The hope is that these students, who must earn a degree from an approved Maryland teacher education program, will return to the county to teach. The students must pledge one year of service in a priority or Title I school for each year they receive the scholarship loan, worth $4,000 each year.

This year's recipients, according to a school system press release, are:

-- Ryan Goff, an honor student at Eastern Technical High School. He is taking Advanced Placement classes in psychology, English literature, and calculus and is a varsity track and cross-country team member. He is a member of the SAT 1300 Club (with an SAT score of 1360). (Last year, Ryan’s sister Meghan received this scholarship.) Ryan plans to teach secondary math.

-- Brittany McNeal, an honor student at Dundalk High School, where she is treasurer of the Future Educators Association and a varsity field hockey player. She takes courses at the Community College of Baltimore County in Dundalk. She is a member of her school’s Class of 2008 Steering Committee and Calculus Club, and volunteers with the Berkshire Area Community Association and Dundalk Renaissance Corp. Brittany plans to teach secondary math.

-- Malcolm Rowe, who plans to pursue technology education, has taken Advanced Placement psychology and environmental science courses and participated last year in Pikesville High School’s jazz and gospel choir. He volunteers with the Community Outreach Food Pantry.

Posted by Gina Davis at 11:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
                    

"If you could leave a mark on the world, what would it be and why?"

That's the essay topic for this year's Horace Mann Educator Scholarship, an annual competition named after Horace Mann, the 18th century statesman and educator known as the "father of American public education."

Timed to coincide with American Education Week, The Horace Mann Companies this week called on K-12 educators across the nation to apply for the scholarship. Horace Mann will award 36 scholarships: one $5,000 award payable over four years, 15 $1,000 awards payable over two years, and 20 one-time $500 awards. Applicants must be a K-12 educator with at least two years of experience with a U.S. public or private school district.

Scholarship awards must be applied to tuition, fees or expenses for classes at a two- or four-year accredited college or university. In addition to a 300-word essay, applicants will be judged on their school and community activities. For more details on applying, check out https://www.horacemann.com/edscholarship/. Applications are due by Feb. 29.

So, "If you could leave a mark on the world, what would it be and why?"

Send us your answers and we'll consider posting them.

Posted by Gina Davis at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
                    

Are you a high school senior who wants to pursue a career in journalism and needs money for college?

The Al Neuharth Free Spirit Awards is for you. The award recognizes top high school journalism seniors who are free spirits as well as other free-spirited individuals.

One female and one male high school senior are selected from each state and the District of Columbia to receive a $1,000 scholarship and the opportunity to attend a journalism conference in March. Of these students, two will be selected to receive $50,000 college scholarships.

I’ve known several people who have been chosen for the award. It sounds like a really solid program. Take a chance and apply today. The Feb 15 deadline is looming.

Posted by John-John Williams IV at 6:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
                    

Just read Sara Neufeld’s blog post about the recent scholarship success in Baltimore City. It got me wondering about the success in other school systems. In addition, I want to know the keys to scholarship success.
 Are you a student who has recently received a large sum of scholarship money? Do you have any tips for rising seniors? Are their special Web sites to search? Did you have a special guidance counselor who steered you in the right direction?
 I can’t wait to read about the keys to your success!

Posted by John-John Williams IV at 6:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)