Department of Teacher Education

This need-based scholarship for education majors is named in honor of Glen and Chris Bickel both long-time residents of Fort Wayne. This scholarship is designed to help education majors complete their degree. In previous years, one scholarship of approximately $1000.00 has been awarded. Interested applicants must meet the following criteria:  

• Achieved junior (60 credit hours) or senior class standing (90 credit hours).  
• Be eligible to graduate the same academic year for which the scholarship is awarded.  
• Students must complete a FASFA form.  
• Must be a declared education major either as your primary or secondary major or as an art or music education major.  
• Certification and T2T students are eligible and encouraged to apply.  
• Graduate students are not eligible.

This scholarship is need based. The donors were born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana and continue to have strong ties to this region.  Sandra Warner Davis is a graduate of the former Indiana University at Fort Wayne School of Education, now Purdue University at Fort Wayne School of Education.  Miles Davis’ mother and grandmothers were educators as well.  Interested applicants must meet the following criteria:  

• Achieved sophomore status (30 credit hours or more).   
• Undergraduate. 
• Certification, T2T, and graduate students are not eligible.  
• Must be a declared education major either as your primary or secondary major or as an art or music education major.  
• Elementary education majors. preferred  
• Graduated from an Allen County High School, private or public. preferred  
• Immediate family has limited college experience. preferred  
• FASFA required - Financial need. preferred

This need-based scholarship for education majors is named in memory of Dr. J. Randolph Kirby, Associate Professor Emeritus of Education. A graduate of the Chicago public school system where he also later taught before receiving doctorates of philosophy in history and philosophy of education, Dr. Kirby joined the faculty of then IPFW in 1969 where he taught social foundations courses. This scholarship is available to both graduate and undergraduate students. Preference will be given to graduate students enrolled in social foundations courses. In previous years, one scholarship of approximately $1500.00 has been awarded. Interested applicants must meet the following criteria:  

• Undergraduate students achieved sophomore class standing (30 credit hours). 
• Undergraduate students must be a declared education major either as your primary or secondary major or as an art or music education major.  
• Graduate students who are completing one of the following programs are also eligible, Educational Leadership, Elementary and Secondary Education, Special Education and Counseling. 
• Certification and T2T students are eligible and encouraged to apply.  
• 2.7 minimum overall undergraduate GPA; 3.0 minimum graduate GPA.  
• Students must complete a FASFA form. Financial need preferred  
• Graduate students enrolled social foundation courses will be given preference.  

Dr. Beverly N. Parke was a tenured assistant professor in the School of Education of then IPFW from 1998 – 2008.  She was head of the Special Education program, specialized in the education of gifted and talented students, and wrote numerous books and articles on this topic. Most importantly, she was a fierce advocate for youth and early childhood education. Interested applicants must meet the following criteria:  

• Must be a declared education major either as your primary or secondary major or as an art or music education major at the undergraduate level. 
• Graduate students who are completing one of the following programs are also eligible, Educational Leadership, Elementary and Secondary Education and Special Education. 
• Certification and T2T students are eligible and encouraged to apply.   
• Achieved sophomore class standing (30 credit hours). 
• FASFA form is not required.  
• Certification and T2T students are eligible and encouraged to apply.  
• Demonstrate a cumulative GPA in the B grading scale range of 2.7 to 3.3 on a 4.0 scale or higher.  

This is a need-based scholarship. Helen is passionate about volunteering and giving of her time and talent to venues that were important to her prior to and during retirement.  It was her hope that recipients of her scholarship might also want to contribute their time and talent to organizations for which they are passionate.  Helen created this scholarship in appreciation for, and acknowledgement of, the benefits she received from her own elementary school teachers as they inspired her adventures in learning.  Interested applicants must meet the following criteria:  

• Achieved junior class standing (60 credit hours or more) – undergraduate only.  
• Elementary education majors only.  
• 2.5 GPA minimum overall undergraduate GPA.  
• Established a commitment to become a teacher.  
• Students must complete a FASFA form. – preference given for financial need  
• First generation college students. – preferred  
• Certification, T2T and graduate students are not eligible. 

Margaret E. Spiegel received her master’s degree from Indiana University and taught in the Fort Wayne Community School District for almost 50 years. Typical award amounts have been around $600.00. Interested applicants must meet the following criteria: 

• Graduated from Fort Wayne Community School District or a private school within the Fort Wayne Community School District.  
• Graduate students who are completing one of the following programs are eligible: Educational Leadership, Elementary and Secondary Education, Special Education and Counseling. 
• Undergraduate students must be a declared education major either as your primary or secondary major or as an art or music education major. 
• No FASFA required. 

The Hana Stith Elementary Education Scholarship was created to support elementary education students financially. Ms. Stith, born in Fort Wayne, spent 36 years as a teacher, and was one of the first African-American teachers to be hired by Fort Wayne Community Schools.  Ms. Stith was a caring and committed teacher who supervised many student teachers. Typical award amounts are $1200. Recipients may reapply in subsequent years as long requirements are met.  Interested applicants must meet the following criteria:  

• Only undergraduate elementary or middle school education majors 
• High school GPA 2.8 or higher 
• Plan to teach in grades kindergarten through grade eight 
• Plan to teach in public schools 
• FASFA required.  Demonstrate financial need required. 
• Underrepresented minority students are encouraged to apply. 
• Certification, T2T and graduate students are not eligible. 

This merit-based scholarship for education majors is named in memory of Dr. Gerald G. Szymanski, Associate Professor Emeritus of Education. Dr. Szymanski used his years of experience as a professional educator to help advance the quality of teacher education and scholarship at then IPFW. This scholarship is available to both graduate and undergraduate students. In previous years, two scholarships of approximately $2000.00 each have been awarded. Interested applicants must meet the following criteria:  

• Achieved sophomore class standing (30 credit hours) if undergraduate student.  
• Undergraduate students must be a declared education major either as your primary or secondary major or as an art or music education major. 
• Graduate students who are completing one of the following programs are also eligible, Educational Leadership, Elementary and Secondary Education, and Special Education. 
• Certification and T2T students are eligible and encouraged to apply.   
• 2.8 minimum undergraduate GPA; 3.0 minimum graduate GPA.  
• FASFA form is not required.  

This merit-based scholarship for education majors is named in memory of Ronald Vernderly, a former teacher and educational philanthropist who believed in the transformative power of teachers. In previous years, two scholarships of approximately $1000.00 each have been awarded. Interested applicants must meet the following criteria:  

• Achieved sophomore class standing (30 credit hours).  
• 3.0 minimum GPA.  
• FASFA form is not required.  
• Must be a declared education major either as your primary or secondary major or as an art or music education major.  
• Certification and T2T students are eligible and encouraged to apply.  
• Graduate students are not eligible.

This merit-based scholarship for education majors is named in memory of Ronald Vernderly, a former teacher and educational philanthropist who believed in the transformative power of teachers. Preference will be given to social studies education majors. In previous years, one scholarship of approximately $1000.00 has been awarded. Interested applicants must meet the following criteria:  

• Achieved sophomore class standing (30 credit hours).  
• 3.0 minimum GPA.  
• Legal resident of Indiana.  
• FASFA form is not required. 
• Must be a declared education major either as your primary or secondary major or as an art or music education major.  
• Certification and T2T students are eligible and encouraged to apply.  
• Graduate students are not eligible. 
• Social Studies majors either secondary or middle school only. - Preferred

The Ophelia and Oscar Weitzman Completer Scholarship is awarded to support students financially as they finish their program. Typical award amounts are $2000. Recipients may reapply in subsequent years as long requirements are met. Interested applicants must meet the following criteria:  

• Undergraduate students must be a declared education major either as your primary or secondary major or as an art or music education major. 
• Certification and T2T students are not eligible.  
• Graduate students are not eligible.  
• Must have at least 24 credits completed at PFW. 
• 2.8 minimum undergraduate GPA. 
• Achieved junior (60 credit hours) or senior class standing (90 credit hours).  
• Must be full-time student. 
• Must complete FASFA form.  Financial need required. 

This is a new scholarship and is a need-based scholarship. The donors, Daryl R and Joenita K Yost, established this scholarship to provide financial assistance to international students or students from the United States whose cultural background and/or ethnicity will enhance the diversity of the student body at the university. Interested applicants must meet the following criteria:  

• Full-time student.  
• Undergraduate students must be a declared education major either as your primary or secondary major or as an art or music education major. 
• Graduate students who are completing one of the following programs are eligible: Educational Leadership, Elementary and Secondary Education, Special Education and Counseling. 
• Overall GPA 3.0.  
• FASFA required.  Financial Need Required.  
• First generation college student.  Preferred  
• International student or student from the United States whose cultural background and/or ethnicity will enhance the diversity of the student body at the University. Preferred