STEM Pre-Service Teacher Education Scholarships
Program Status: Closed
Program type(s): Scholarship, funding, student funding, student opportunities

Background
The STEM Pre-Service Teacher Education Scholarship program is designed for students enrolled in a teacher education degree program at the undergraduate level (pre-service teachers). Scholarship recipients will be required to complete a series of NASA STEM Digital Badges, participate in professional seminars, and attend a cohort field trip to NASA Langley Research Center.
Objectives
- Promote science education in the K-12 classroom, focusing on improving pre-college perceptions of, understanding of and interests in science
- Promote science education in the K-12 classroom, focusing on improving pre-college interests in pursuit of science education and science careers
- Assist in the preparation of teachers entering into the K-12 science classrooms
- Equip future teachers with NASA content and tools to use in the classroom
Award Level
- $3,500 per student.
- Travel to NASA Langley will also be paid for by NC Space Grant.
- Distribution of awards is contingent on meeting benchmarks as outlined in the Awardee Contract Packet.
How to Apply
- Applications are due October 17, 2022. Late applications will not be accepted for any reason
- Faculty letters of recommendation are due by October 19, 2022
- Awards are competitive; applications will be peer reviewed.
Eligibility Requirements
- This opportunity is open to undergraduate students at the junior/senior level that are majoring in an education degree program at any accredited higher education institution in the State of North Carolina.
- Minimum GPA requirement is 3.0.
- U.S. citizenship is required.
- To apply, students must complete an online application. The application consists of general information, a transcript request and three short essays.
- A recommendation letter submitted online is required.
- Previous recipients of the STEM Pre-Service Teacher Education Scholarship are ineligible to apply.

Scholarship Expectations
- Complete two NASA STEM Digital Badge Modules:
- Scholars will be required to complete two NASA STEM Digital Badge modules. The NASA STEM Educator Professional Development Collaborative (NASA EPDC) digital badge content was developed for teachers and is aligned to Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core. Each badge requires educators to complete a classroom (or virtual) teaching component to demonstrate mastery of content.
- Complete two virtual Educator Professional Development webinars offered by NASA EPDC.
- Participate in two cohort webinars. First webinar is November 10, 2022 from 4:00-5:00 pm led by Dr. Anne Weiss, Education Specialist at NASA Langley Research Center. The second webinar will be in spring 2023 (date TBD).
- Participate in a cohort field trip to NASA Langley Research Center in Spring 2023 (contingent upon COVID-19 travel guidance).
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice and Accessibility
NC Space Grant’s relevance and ability to positively impact the lives of students and community members will rely increasingly on how well we embody diversity, equity and inclusion. Visit our DEIJA statement to learn about the intentional measures we are taking in our hopes to fully realize diversity, equity and inclusion in all aspects of our programmatic portfolio.
Contact
For questions regarding this opportunity, please contact Jobi Cook at (919) 515-5933 or jobi_cook@ncsu.edu.