SOUTH KINGSTOWN – The University of Rhode Island’s School of Education has been awarded $1.2 million for a National Science Foundation scholarship program aimed at providing financial assistance to prospective math and science teachers.
The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program will provide $15,000 scholarships to 20 juniors and seniors who are majoring in both education and a science or mathematics, URI announced in a news release.
It will also provide $35,000 a year to a “career changer,” someone in the fields of science, technology, engineering or mathematics, or STEM, who is seeking teacher certification at URI.
“The scholarship program is instrumental in recruiting students who major in a STEM area to consider a career in K-12 teaching,” said Anne Seitsinger, associate dean of the Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Education and Professional Studies.
In return for the scholarship money, students agree to teach in high-need school districts for two years after they earn their teaching degree.
The scholarship also provides paid summer internships for URI freshmen and sophomores to work with children and youth in informal science and mathematics settings.
This is the second Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program award received by URI. The first, in 2013, was for $1.4 million, and it used to recruit and support 25 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teachers who are now teaching in five states.
The most recent grant continues until April 2024.
William Hamilton is PBN staff writer and special projects editor. You can follow him on Twitter @waham or email him at hamilton@pbn.com.
