Scholarships

Essay: The purpose of the essay is for the committee to “hear your authentic voice.”

Applicants are required to write an essay between 750 to 1000 words on any of the following topics.

Action Projects:

1. Classroom: Applicants would propose implementing innovative teaching methods. These could include new approaches to classroom management, use of technology in education, or unique lesson-planning strategies. The tangible outcome could be a detailed project report with photos and other realia or a case study of the method's implementation in a classroom setting. (AAQEP Standard 1 & 2).

2. Community Engagement Projects: A project proposal that involves engaging with local communities and/or school stakeholders. This could include literacy programs, workshops for parents, community asset mapping, etc. The tangible outcome here would be a summary of the project's impact also with realia and artifacts. (AAQEP Standard 1 & 2)

3. Language and Cultural Exchange Initiatives: Given linguistic diversity, projects that foster language learning and cultural exchange could be highly impactful. This could involve setting up language clubs, cultural exchange programs, podcasts, or an online international classroom partnership. (AAQEP Standard 1 & 2)

4. Program Engagement in System Improvement - Content, Student Engagement, Leadership, Counseling, Peer Engagement: Applicants might share approaches or strategies for effective practices for improving professional learning and practices such as communication strategies, student engagement, conflict resolution. (AAQEP standard 2 & 4.)

Essay Prompts:

1. Essay Prompt: A Defining Moment in Your Professional Journey to becoming an Educator.
   Prompt: "Every educator has moments that affirm their decision to enter the profession, whether it's a breakthrough with a challenging student, or a class project that exceeded all expectations, or the decision to change professions. Describe a defining moment from your experience that influenced your perspective on education as a career."  (AAQEP Standard 1 & 2)
2. Essay Prompt: The Most Challenging and Rewarding Aspects of Your Professional Experience.
   Prompt: "Education is a profession filled with highs and lows. Reflect on your time in the classroom in any role or in your professional career and discuss the most challenging situation you faced and how you overcame it. Additionally, share your most rewarding professional experience. How have these experiences collectively shaped your outlook on education?" (AAQEP Standard 1 & 2)

Guidelines:

• The essay should be typed in 12-point Times New Roman.
• Please put the prompt you chose on the title page.
• Between 750 and 1000 words.
• Double-spaced.
• Submitted as a Word Doc or PDF.
• Ensure your name, contact details, Touro student ID, your chosen prompt, and the program you are enrolled in at Touro University, GSE are on the title page.
• Essays will be assessed based on clarity, coherence, originality, personal insights, and connection to the prompt.

• The purpose of the video is for you, the candidate, to share your passion for education.

Submit a 1-2 minute video in which you:

• Share what excites you most about education.
Discuss potential research you are interested in pursuing as a scholarship recipient. As a scholarship recipient you will need to create, research, and deliver a personally designed and executed research project in your field at GSE.

Guidelines

The video should be clear with good audio quality.

• Make sure the video is no longer than 2 minutes.
• The video can be creative but should remain professional and focused on the topic.
• Upload the video to a platform like YouTube, Vimeo or Google Drive and provide the link in your application.
• Set sharing to accessible.

A recommendation letter from a principal or professional familiar with the with you, the candidate, is mandatory.

The should:

• Discuss your strengths or teaching skills, leadership, or research potential and prospective for success in the graduate program at Touro University, GSE.
• Be on an official letterhead, signed, and dated, with a phone number to reach the recommending party.
• Be in PDF format.