WGU Washington celebrates National Teacher Appreciation Week with $20,000 in scholarships for current and aspiring teachers

This week, as the nation celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week, nonprofit WGU Washington is announcing 10 scholarships available to current and aspiring teachers seeking a bachelor's or master's degree in education. The online university, which enrolls students the first day of every month, is also waiving the $65 application fee for prospective students who apply to a WGU Teachers College program by June 30.

May 7, 2016 12:30 pm

This week, as the nation celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week, nonprofit WGU Washington is announcing 10 scholarships available to current and aspiring teachers seeking a bachelor’s or master’s degree in education. The online university, which enrolls students the first day of every month, is also waiving the $65 application fee for prospective students who apply to a WGU Teachers College program by June 30.

Each WGU Teacher Appreciation Scholarship is valued at up to $2,000 ($500 per six-month term for up to four terms). New and enrolling students can apply now through June 30 through the university’s website (http://washington.wgu.edu/tuition_financial_aid/scholarships/teacher_appreciation_overview). To be eligible, scholarship applicants must be officially admitted to WGU Washington, complete the scholarship application, and be interviewed by a WGU scholarship counselor. WGU Washington will award up to 10 scholarships and recipients will be selected based on their academic record, financial need and readiness for online study at WGU.

WGU Washington currently has 2,432 students from across the state enrolled in its Teachers College. WGU Washington is the locally-based affiliate of Western Governors University (WGU) and shares its curricula, faculty and learning resources. WGU’s Teachers College, the largest single producer of STEM educators in the U.S.

The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) has ranked WGU’s secondary teacher preparation program as the top program in the nation in terms of quality from a list of 2,400 programs, and WGU was one of only 10 institutions named to the top lists for both elementary and secondary teacher education. Last year, the NCTQ recognized WGU as the No. 1 best value in teacher education

Because WGU develops its curriculum in collaboration with educational leaders across the country, WGU graduates are well prepared to teach in today’s classrooms. Graduates of WGU’s teacher preparation programs can be licensed in all 50 states; last year, 100 percent of WGU graduates who applied for teaching licenses were successful.

In addition to their high quality, WGU’s Teachers College programs are affordable. Tuition is $3,000 per term, charged at a flat rate, regardless of the number of courses completed. Tuition has not increased since 2008. WGU’s competency-based learning model allows students to study and learn at their own pace, moving quickly through what they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn. This allows many students to accelerate their studies, finishing faster, waving them both time and money.