Awards & Scholarships

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Application Process for Spring 2013

The faculty in the Education and Special Education Department have a high regard for our students' diligent work, leadership qualities, participation in university and community organizations, and academic excellence. Accordingly, we are pleased to announce awards that will be awarded in the spring 2013 semester for the 2013-2014 academic year.

All applications must be received by - TBA

Applicants should include a cover page with the name of the scholarship being applied for, the applicant's name, current address, email address, phone number and program.

Applicants should not include their name any place other than on the cover page. Essays are the application unless noted differently.

Joseph C. Ashkar & Lois E. Ashkar Scholarship

The Ashkar Scholarship Fund recognizes and rewards academically talented students pursuing a degree in secondary teacher education at Mansfield University. Karen Ashkar Murley and James W. Ashkar established this scholarship award and fund in honor of their parents, Joseph C. Ashkar, class of 1934, and Lois E. Weir Ashkar, class of 1936, for their combined service of nearly fifty years in education in the Lycoming County community of Hughesville, PA. more information

Applicants must be secondary education majors who have registered for student teaching for either the fall or spring of the following year and who have at least a 3.2 GPA.
Applicants must submit a position paper of no more than 1,000 words on the importance of character in the committed teacher.
$1,500 award the semester of student teaching.

Albert Crispell Award

This award is paid to the University bookstore to cover expenses for books and educational supplies for a senior education student from Bucks, Luzerne, or Wyoming counties. If there is no qualified applicant from these counties, the recipient must be a resident of Pennsylvania.

Recipients must be elementary education majors who display the qualities of a successful educator as determined by the Education & Special Education Department faculty.
The recipient must be a resident from Bucks, Luzerne, or Wyoming counties and have completed 80 or more credit hours.
Submit a letter of interest.
$800 MU bookstore award.

Corinne L. Miller Scholarship

The Corinne L. Miller Scholarship honors a junior or senior level student majoring in elementary or special education, who demonstrates the attitudes and skills of an innovative, risk-taking teacher and community leader. This scholarship is given in honor and memory of Corinne L. Miller, a person who dedicated her life to her family and to service as an educator and community volunteer. It is given by her family, including her four children: J. Dean Miller, Jane Louise Davisson, Michael D. Miller and Sandra L. Woolley, a retired faculty member in the Education & Special Education Department since 1990.

Applicant must be an elementary or special education major who has completed at least 64 credits and passed the "gates" requirements for acceptance as a certification candidate. Applicant must demonstrate the attitudes and skills of an innovative, risk-taking teacher and community leader.
Applicant must submit an essay that addresses the following in 1,000 words or less:
- Describe life experiences you have had that have helped you decide to become a teacher.
- Describe the kind of teacher you expect to be after five years of teaching
- Select one or more leadership roles you have participated in and explain what you have learned about innovation and risk taking from these experiences.
If two candidates are equally qualified, preference will be given to students like Corinne Miller, who are succeeding in spite of responsibilities outside of Mansfield University.
The scholarship may be received for a second year (assuming the recipient continues to meet the scholarship criteria).
$1,000 award

Marilyn Melhuish Elementary Education Scholarship

The Melhuish Elementary Education Scholarship provides a minimum of $1,000 to students in elementary education. The funds for this scholarship were provided by Marilyn Melhuish, a 1956 alumnae and faculty member in the Edinboro Elementary Education Department. Since her graduation from Mansfield State Teachers College, Ms. Melhuish dedicated her life to advancing the cause of teaching and learning. she served on various advisory boards, attended numerous conferences and traveled extensively to advance the profession of teaching. Her unselfish gift marks another milestone in a career of dedication, caring and service.

Applicants must be majoring in elementary education and have earned 64-95 credits with an overall GPA of 3.30.
Applicants must submit an essay of no more than 1,000 words describing their service and volunteer work and the reason for applying for this award.
$1,000 award.

Michele A. Towers Memorial Scholarship

Michele A. Towers attended Mansfield University from 1980 to 1984 and was a member of the softball team, the Crescent Club of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, and the Phi Sigma Pi Honor fraternity. Michele cared deeply about the well-being of other people and would give unselfishly to help someone in need. The Michele A. Towers Memorial Scholarship is an award that was established to honor Michele Tower's memory and to assist young men and women who exemplify her spirit and character in their pursuit of a college education and teaching career. more information

Applicants must be elementary or special education majors who have completed 30-95 credits with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
Applicant must submit three letters of recommendation from people who can speak to the applicant's service to the community.
Applicant must submit an essay of no more than 1,000 words that addresses the service and volunteerism that teachers give to their schools and communities.
$1000 award

Waunita Simonson Price Book Award

This book fund was established by Waunita Simonson Price, class of 1949. Mrs. Price recalled that students could rent their textbooks for fifty cents at the time she attended Mansfield. Knowing the expense of textbooks today, Mrs. Price wished to assist elementary education majors with their education by making funds available to purchase textbooks.

Applicant must be an undergraduate major in elementary education and have sophomore standing at the time of the award with a minimum 3.2 GPA.
The applicant should promote a positive image of teaching.
The applicant must be of exemplary character and exhibit leadership qualities and participation in campus or community organizations.
Submit a letter of interest.
The applicant must exhibit financial need.
$500 Mansfield University bookstore award.

PDK Award

Phi Delta Kappa, an honorary society for professional educators, offers an award to a sophomore-junior level student who is also a graduate of a high school in the Mansfield chapter region.

Applicant must be a high school graduate of Bradford, Lycoming, Potter, Sullivan or Tioga counties.
The student must be enrolled in 2nd, 3rd or 4th year in the Education and Special Education Department.
Applicant must submit an essay of no more than 1,000 words in which the applicant addresses an important problem facing education today and suggests possible solutions.
$600 award

The Albert L. Smith and Dr. Marcella M. Hyde-Smith Scholarship Fund

The scholarship fund was established by Albert L. Smith '49 and Dr. Marcella M. Hyde-Smith '56.

Applicant must be an undergraduate student majoring in teacher education
Must have completed four (4) semesters
Must be considered by the faculty to be of high moral and ethical standards
Must be involved in service to the university
Must be enthusiastic about the teaching profession
Applicant must submit an essay of no more than 1,000 words that describes how they will apply their high moral and ethical standards to being a role model for their students both in and outside the classroom.
$1000 award

Elden and Marjorie Tewksbury Scholarship

This scholarship was established by Marjorie Tewksbury, Class of 1952, and in memory of her late husband, Elden Tewksbury, Class of 1951, for the purpose of assisting students pursuing a degree in teacher education. Mrs. Tewksbury taught music education for twenty-eight years. The Tewksbury Scholarship may be renewable if the criteria below has been met. The criteria for the initial selection of the scholarship recipient include the following:

Applicants must be considered by the faculty to hold high moral and ethical standards.
Applicants must be involved in service to the University.
Applicants must be enthusiastic about the teaching profession.
Recipients must be undergraduates in teacher education who have completed at least 30 semester hours.
Applicant must submit an essay of no more than 1,000 words that addresses the knowledge base metaphor for teacher education at Mansfield University: "Teacher as Reflective Decision Maker."
$900 award (the scholarship may be renewable).