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Golden Apple Scholars Program cited for Harvard Government Award

Golden Apple Scholars Program cited for Harvard Government Award

(Chicago - November 18, 2002) — Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois, a creative and results-driven program that recruits and prepares predominately low-income high school graduates for successful teaching careers in underperforming schools across the state, has been named a semifinalist for the prestigious 2002 Innovations in American Government Award, presented by Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

The award recognizes outstanding programs that devise imaginative and effective ways to meet urgent social and economic challenges. Each of the six semifinalists is eligible for one of five top grants of $100,000.

"We are pleased to receive this honor for the second year in a row," said Elaine Schuster, President and CEO of Golden Apple Foundation. "It is a tribute to the nearly 700 dedicated Scholars, who have agreed to teach for five years in an Illinois school of need after being provided financial assistance to attend college and receiving professional guidance from Golden Apple Award-winning teachers."

Each year since 1988, through a rigorous application and interview process, 100 Scholars are selected statewide during their senior year in high school or sophomore year in college. They receive financial assistance to attend one of 48 public and private universities across the state and take part in summer programs that include teaching internships and enhanced teacher preparation.

The Scholars, who are 57-percent minority and 54-percent low income, rank among the best-prepared teachers in the state, according to a 2001 study conducted by the University of Illinois at Chicago. The Scholars Program is a public-private partnership funded primarily by the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois Board of Higher Education, and corporations, foundations, and individual donors.

Golden Apple Scholars is one of six Illinois programs selected for the award by Harvard University's Institute for Government Innovation from a pool of nearly 1,000 applicants and representing the best and brightest in government from across the country.

The other semifinalists are, from the State of Illinois, Urban Systems of Care and Education Access Project; and from the City of Chicago, Benefits Eligibility Checklist, NeighborSpace, and Chicago's 311 System.

Four criteria are used to evaluate each application - novelty, effectiveness in addressing important problems, significance, and the potential for replication by other government entities.

Fifteen finalists will be selected from the semifinalists across the nation in early winter 2002. Each of the five winning programs, to be named in May 2003, will receive a $100,000 grant to promote and replicate their innovative efforts.

The list of semifinalists is available on the Web at www.excelgov.org. Press contact for the Harvard program is Carl Fillichio, (202) 530-3244; cfillichio@excelgov.org.