Building future educators: The impact of the Teaching Fellows program at NGU
Treasure Hardwick, Staff Writer
North Greenville University recently made available the Teaching Fellows program for aspiring educators.
The program provides a forgivable loan, meaning that teachers pay it back through their service in public high schools over the years. It is funded by the state and administered through an organization called CERRA, which stands for Center for Education, Recruitment, Retention and Advancement.
The forgivable loan is offered to high school seniors looking to receive a degree in education, whether that be physical education, English education, elementary education and more.
The applications for the scholarship open on October 1 and extend until December 1. After high school seniors apply, 500 students out of 1000 applicants are invited for an interview.
These students, all from South Carolina, are selected based on ACT and SAT scores. During the interview process, students are scored on their extracurriculars and personal statements.
After the interviews, students are furthered scored based on both their test results from the application and interview. Around 250 students around the state are selected for the program, which provides students with $6,000 annually.
According to Teaching Fellows FAQs, 14 universities around the state offer this scholarship to students. The recent addition to NGU allows for its students to build relationships with other students while saving money and preparing for the future.
Gretchen Pruden, education professor at NGU, described the significance of the scholarship for NGU education majors.
She explained that not only does the scholarship have wonderful financial implications for students, but it also provides a community within the education department. Once students are admitted into the program, CERRA extends extra opportunities for classroom experience beyond what a traditional student would get, as well as planned times for community service and outreach.
Pruden said that humans thrive off community, and the fellows program is a wonderful means to cultivate it.
“CERRA sees the value of community, and we as believers know in our core community is everything because God made us to be relational people. But the opportunities for the fellows would be that they have a network that stays with them for as long as they’re in this career,” Pruden said.
