School of Education | SOE Scholarships & Funding | Spartan Education Scholars

Spartan Education Scholars

DEVELOPING THE TEACHER AS SERVANT LEADER WITHIN A DIVERSE AND GLOBAL CONTEXT

2022-23 Teacher Education Fellows group photo

The UNCG Spartan Education Scholars Program, previously the Teacher Education Fellows Program, emphasizes servant leadership within a diverse and global context. As participants in this community of like-minded pre-service teachers, scholarship recipients engage in teaching-related activities designed to develop and enhance their leadership abilities, commitment to the campus and broader community, and awareness of socio-cultural considerations from the individual to the global scale.

Due to the generosity of the Marian Franklin Scholarship, the Jacqueline W. & Jack H. Varner Scholarship, the J. Barnwell & Mary Blair Allison Scholarship, and the Sandra Green Marsh Class of 1961 Endowed UNCG Teacher Education Fellows Scholarship, participation in the UNCG Spartan Education Scholars Program includes scholarships of up to $28,000. Scholarship funds for tuition are distributed incrementally, with $4,500 distributed in the first year, $5,500 distributed in the second year, and $9,000 distributed in each of the last two years, as long as eligibility requirements are maintained.

Development of global awareness, leadership, and civic responsibility will occur through engagement in a variety of activities funded in part through the generosity of the Sarah Cole Jordan endowment.

These opportunities for an enriched professional and educational experience include:

Early Internships: Fellows intern in the schools approximately two years before their peers outside of the program.
International Experience: Fellows spend a semester abroad in the second year, focusing on personal development, international study, and becoming a globally-minded educator.
Undergraduate Research: Fellows engage in research around their passions, with opportunities to present and publish their work for external audiences.
Leadership Development: Fellows participate in professional conferences and workshops, network with local and state educational leaders, and engage in structured leadership skill-building, with opportunities for formal leadership roles.
Integrated Seminars: Fellows enroll in seminars that integrate formal leadership development, intercultural learning, and teacher development led by award-winning faculty in the School of Education.
Residential Living: Fellows live in relative proximity to one another as part of the Residential Colleges or Lloyd International Honors College during the first two years in the program.
Community Engagement: Fellows develop and support initiatives designed to address the needs of the local community.
Alumni Network: Fellows develop lasting bonds with a cohort of peers at UNCG that continue long past graduation, with activities specifically focused on alumni engagement.

Participation in the UNCG Spartan Education Scholars Program is open to incoming freshmen (first-year students), current UNCG students, and transfer students majoring in Deaf Education, Elementary Education, Middle Grades Education, Special Education, and Dual (Elementary and Special) Education.

In order to be eligible for participation in the UNCG Spartan Education Scholars Program, students must meet the following criteria:

North Carolina residency.
3.80 weighted cumulative high school GPA recommended.
3.00 cumulative GPA at the end of the first semester at UNCG.
3.30 cumulative GPA by the second year at UNCG.
Must maintain a minimum 3.0 overall GPA to remain in the program (unless a student’s program GPA requirements are higher).
Admission to Teacher Education by the third year.
Admission to student teaching by the fourth year.
Participation in all required UNCG Spartan Education Scholars Program activities.
Student must make continuous academic progress toward degree completion.

Juliette Vayer, 2022 graduate with Bachelor of Science in Interpreting, Deaf Education, and Advocacy Services

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From Our Scholars…

Skylar Sumrell leans against a tiled wall, looking at the camera with a calm expression. They are wearing a black floral-patterned top, gold earrings, and a delicate necklace. The background features small square tiles in neutral and blue tones.

“I have had invaluable experiences in this program that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. My early internships helped me gain more real-life classroom experience and overall confidence. I was given a mentor to help me navigate my college experience and gain a lifelong friendship. I was able to meet and interact with teachers from other countries, comparing our experiences in the education world.” – Skylar Sumrell

A smiling Sawyer Wemyss in a pink-and-white floral dress stands in a classroom doorway, holding the door open with both hands, with desks and chairs visible behind her.

“The Spartan Education Scholars Program gives me a community of fellow scholars with whom I can build relationships. I can ask them for advice any time! The Spartan Education Scholars Seminar helps strengthen this community by allowing us to gather in one space. Knowing I have a group of students with similar goals and ambitions helps me feel at home at UNCG.” – Sawyer Wemyss