Idaho State University Department of Educational Foundations receives $97,500 in scholarship grant funding

The Idaho State University Department of Educational Foundations in the College of Education recently was awarded more than $97,500 in scholarship grant funding for academic year 2011 – 2012.

Those funds benefit ISU College of Education undergraduate teacher education students seeking to work in Idaho school districts in fields such as bilingual education, English,  and English as a Second Language (ESL).

The program’s main goal as part of the Idaho State Board of Education's Grow Your Own (GYO) Scholarship seeks to increase the number of bilingual or ESL teachers specific to Southeast Idaho. Since its inception approximately 200 students have participated in the scholarship program as members of ISU College of Education undergraduate programs in Pocatello, Idaho Falls and Twin Falls.

 "GYO has helped lift the financial burden of student loans while providing opportunities for me to get real world experiences," said Jon Storey, one of the recipients of GYO scholarship.

Another recipient, Mattias Gonzales, who is working on his secondary education with an ESL minor, expressed his gratitude saying, "I can't be anything but enthused and happy to receive the GYO (Grow Your Own) scholarship."

A current trend includes a diverse range of GYO students with differing Spanish/English-speaking backgrounds. The diversity the participants bring provides new ways and means to meet the diverse needs of our growing English Learner population.

The scholarship program is seeking applicants for fall 2012 with the screening of applicants occurring in April 2012.

For more information about this program, please visit College of Education Website: http://ed.isu.edu/studentResources/scholarships.shtml#GYO. Application forms are available online. You can also contact Dr. Beverly Ray, Chair of Educational Foundations Department, Dr. Shu-Yuan Lin, the GYO program faculty advisor at 282-3185 or email linshu@isu.edu, or Korbin Cook, the GYO program assistant, at cookkorb@isu.edu.

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