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Nominations Open for Illinois High School Juniors

Nominations Open for Illinois High School Juniors to Become Golden Apple Scholars

(Chicago - March, 2001) — Nominations are now open for the 2002 class of Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois program, which recruits high school students who want to become teachers and assists them throughout college into the early years of teaching. All current high school juniors in Illinois are eligible to be nominated for the program by a teacher, counselor, principal or other non-family adult. For the first time this year, self-nominations are accepted. The Scholars program begins its fourteenth year of preparing excellent teachers. Six hundred Scholars are currently in the program with over 150 Scholars now teaching in schools throughout Illinois.

Created by Golden Apple Award-winning teachers, the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois program provides classroom experience, mentoring through the Golden Apple network of outstanding Award-winning teachers, and financial assistance for college. Scholars must earn a bachelors degree and teacher certification at one of 38 participating Illinois universities and participate in four summers of the Golden Apple Scholars Summer Institute. All Scholars will receive a $5,000 forgivable scholarship loan each year for four years of undergraduate education, paid to the university, and a $2,000 Summer Institute stipend for each of the four Summer Institutes. In return Scholars agree to teach in an Illinois school of need for five years after graduation.

Scholars commit to teach in a school with a large proportion of high-need students. The program admits 100 students each year (depending on state funding) from more than 1,000 nominations. Each nominated student must complete a written application and submit three letters of reference, high school transcripts, and ACT scores to the Golden Apple Foundation. Approximately 250 applicants will be interviewed during the winter of 2001. The deadline for nominations is September 30, 2001. To receive a nomination form call the Golden Apple Foundation at (312) 407-0006, ext. 106.

The Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois program is the largest program of the Golden Apple Foundation. The Foundation was created in 1985 to recognize excellence in teaching through the Golden Apple Award program. Today the Foundation works through a number of programs to improve and impact education in Illinois. Programs include Golden Apple Science workshops, the GATE (Golden Apple Teacher Education) alternative teacher certification program, and Golden Apple Storytelling workshops.