Contact: Harriet Laird
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Three undergraduates and three graduate students at Mississippi State University are receiving national Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarships.
Administered through the College of Education, the scholastic recognition program encourages talented MSU majors in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics--often called STEM--to become K-12 teachers in the math and science disciplines.
The National Science Foundation-funded program involves a two-year teaching commitment in a high-need Mississippi school district for each year of support received, according to campus scholarship administrator Linda Coats.
"Service must be completed within eight years after graduation from the degree program in which the scholarship was awarded," added the associate professor in the college's leadership and foundations department.
She explained that availability is limited to undergraduate juniors and seniors pursuing a double major, with one in chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics, or engineering and the other in mathematics education or science education within a STEM field.
Graduates already holding a bachelor's degree in a STEM field are eligible for professional stipends.
Qualifying undergraduates receive up to $10,000 each year for a maximum of three years, while qualifying STEM professionals with a degree receive $15,000 for one year toward an advanced degree.
This year's MSU group includes (by hometown):
ENTERPRISE--Graduate student Derick M. Reid, pursuing a master of science degree in general biology;
MADISON--Junior Sumer Barakat, a double-major in chemistry and secondary education, with a minor in biology;
NATCHEZ--Junior Guy W. Wimberly, majoring in mathematics and secondary education;
OXFORD--Graduate student Kendrick L. Savage, pursuing a master of arts degree in secondary teacher education;
SHEFFIELD, Ala.--Junior Lauren A. Stutts, majoring in secondary education with an emphasis in chemistry education;
VICKSBURG--Graduate student Chase Douglas, pursuing a master of arts degree in secondary education.
To be considered for the scholarships, undergraduates must have a 3.0 grade-point average or higher (based on a 4.0 scale), be a U.S. citizen interested in pursuing a double major and provide documentation of at least 40 hours working with children, among other requirements.
The professional stipends require at least a bachelor's degree in a STEM field from a regionally/nationally accredited institution, U.S. citizenship, a minimum 2.75 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale), and documentation of at least 40 hours working with children, among other criteria.
For more on the scholarship program, visit www.noyce.msstate.edu. For further details, contact Coats at 662-325-2416 or lcoats@colled.msstate.edu.