Western Illinois University, in partnership with Black Hawk College and local school districts, received a $1.4 million National Science Foundation grant to address teacher shortages in high-needs school districts, according to a WIU news release.
The grant will award 24 NOYCE STEM Teacher Scholarships over the next five years, and three scholars have already been selected for the fall 2023 semester, WIU said.
The program — which supports majors in mathematics, biology, chemistry or physics — could provide recipients with more than $30,000 in scholarships to help pay for tuition, fees and housing. NOYCE scholars will receive up to two and a half years of scholarship to complete an undergraduate degree in secondary education with teacher licensure in science or mathematics, according to the release.
This could allow recipients to obtain a bachelor’s degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) as well as a teaching license for less than $15,000.
Current students at WIU, area community colleges and high school juniors and seniors are encouraged to learn more about the program announced earlier this year.
“The goal of this grant is to produce more highly qualified STEM teachers for our area high schools, and we believe the program should be of great benefit to students in STEM, our area school districts, Black Hawk Community College and Western Illinois University,” WIU Mathematics Professor Bob Mann said in the release.
“We are honored to provide these opportunities for our students, our communities and our future,” he added.
For more information, email Mr. Mann at rr-mann@wiu.edu or WIU Mathematics Professor Susan Brooks at sc-brooks@wiu.edu.
