Chown/Himmel Scholarship ($500)

Evaluation Criteria:

• GPA: 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA and 3.5 or higher major
• Applicants must be full-time special education majors who have attained Junior or Senior and have been accepted into the Teacher Education Program (TEP)
• Comments: Recipient must be actively involved in special education extracurricular activities. Applicants who have a strong interest in teaching students with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities will be given preference.
• The applicant should document a high degree of involvement in activities that support individuals with special needs.

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Noah Eckman Memorial Scholarship in honor of Denita Rouse ($1000)

History: The Noah Eckman Memorial Scholarship in Honor of Denita Rouse was created by Noah's parents, Troy and Jennifer Eckman, in May 2013. Noah attended West Central Illinois Special Education class as West Prairie South Elementary School in Colchester, Illinois. Noah's teacher, Denita Rouse, was a positive and important influence on his short life. Noah died March 5, 2004 at the age of 6. Noah's parents created the memorial scholarship to help prepare teachers with Denita's commitment and work ethic to teach students with special needs consistent with Noah's.

Evaluation Criteria:

• • GPA: 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA
  • Be senior level special education major
  • Be a Us citizen
  • Be enrolled for at least six semester hours

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Nicholas Joseph DiGrino Scholarship ($1000)

Evaluation Criteria:

• • GPA: 2.75 or higher cumulative GPA
  • Applicants must be a special education majors who have been accepted into the Teacher Education Program (TEP)
  • Comments: Preference will be given to applicants who can demonstrate community and/or university service and commitment to children with disabilities.

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Kathleen "Robin" Tomlinson Special Education Memorial Scholarship

History: This scholarship fund has been established by the family and friends of Kathleen “Robin” Tomlinson to provide financial assistance to a junior or senior WIU student majoring in special education. Robin graduated from Western Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science in 1974. Robin was the consummate teacher throughout her life, whether substituting for any and all subjects at the secondary level in Arizona public schools where she followed her Army husband, or in the Department of Defense schools in Germany, or even just volunteering with the scouts. While at Ft. Drum, NY, she saw that the local schools were over-taxed due to the recent influx of the newly established Army presence, and so she initiated an education enrichment program for neighborhood children from pre-Kindergarten to third grade. When her husband retired and they returned to Illinois, she found her main calling in substituting as either a teacher or aide for Special Education. She delighted in the accomplishments of these many children, considering them "hers," and enjoyed watching them succeed as they moved into the real world. Eventually, after over 15 more years of substituting, she had to retire due to her own health concerns, but always had a soft spot in her heart for teaching and helping in the Special Education program.

CRITERIA:

• Applicant must be a junior or senior student at WIU majoring in special education.
• A GPA of 3.0 or better.
• Financial need using the FAFSA or other information. Activity/involvement within the
• Department of Curriculum and Instruction Education and/or the community.

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Patricia A. Wood Memorial Scholarship in Special Education

History: The Patricia A. Wood Memorial Scholarship in Special Education was established by Mrs. Minette Wood in memory of her daughter. The purpose of this scholarship fund is to financially assist students majoring in Special Education during the semester that they are student teaching.

Evaluation Criteria:

• • GPA: 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA and 3.5 or higher major
  • Applicants must be full-time special education majors who will be student teaching during the semester the scholarship is received.
  • Comments: Financial need will be considered. The recipient and his/her family will be honored at the annual Scholars' Recognition Ceremony hosted by the Western Illinois University Foundation.
  • Deadlines: November 1st for spring student teaching; April 1st for fall student teaching

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Ralph & Gladys Anderson Scholarship for Sherrard Students (for currently enrolled & transfer students only)

• First preference to an African American student attending WIU with a 3.0 GPA or better with junior class status majoring in Special Education or Elementary Education who graduated from Sherrard High School,
• Second preference to any minority student attending WIU with junior class status majoring in Elementary Education or Special Education with a 3.0 GPA or better (includes transfer GPA for new transfers) who graduated from Sherrard High School.
• Third preference to any student attending WIU with junior class status majoring in Elementary Education or Special Education with a 3.0 GPA or better from Sherrard High School.
• Fourth preference to any student attending WIU with junior class status majoring in Elementary Education or Special Education with a 3.0 GPA or better from a county surrounding Sherrard High School.

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Scottie and Dr. Carl Fenn Scholarship

Evaluation Criteria:

• • GPA: 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA and 3.5 or higher major
  • Applicants must be fulltime special education majors who have attained Junior or Senior and have been accepted into the Teacher Education Program (TEP)
  • Comments: Applicants who have a strong interest in teaching students with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities and who have been active in WIU student CEC will be given preference. The recipient and his/her family will be honored at the annual Scholars' Recognition Ceremony hosted by the Western Illinois University Foundation.

Deadline to apply: March 15

Apply to/Contact:
School of Education, Horrabin Hall 115
Western Illinois University
Macomb, IL 61455

Apply Online