Scholarships available to assist current and aspiring teachers

The nonprofit Hawaii Education Association is again offering a slate of scholarships for public school teachers, student teachers, college students and graduating high school seniors.

“We want to ensure that the community knows that our scholarship program is still going strong during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said June Motokawa, HEA board president. “Now more than ever, we believe it is vital to support current and aspiring teachers with the resources to be the best they can be. If you are seeking Hawaii State Department of Education licensing or certification, preparing for a student teaching semester or completing an undergraduate or graduate degree in education, we encourage you to apply for an HEA scholarship.”

HEA offers six types of scholarships in three categories of applicants:

• In-Service Public School Educators Scholarship: Scholarships in the amount of $2,000 each are awarded to support study or training by tenured and/or permanent DOE PK-12 teachers, administrators or educational assistants. Preference is given to candidates who are completing a state approved program leading to teacher licensing, school administrator certification or DOE ParaPro minimum qualifications.

• Ronald K. Toma Scholarship for Professional Development: A total of $3,000 is allocated annually, and there can be a single award or multiple awards in a year. This scholarship supports enrichment opportunities and professional development for tenured DOE PK-12 teachers and administrators.

• Scholarships for student teachers: Student Teacher Scholarship sponsored by the Helen McKay Memorial Scholarships in the amount of $2,000 each are awarded to student teachers intending to teach in the state DOE system, to minimize the need for employment during the student teaching semester.

• Hiroshi and Barbara Kim Yamashita HEA Scholarships: Scholarships in the amount of $2,000 each are awarded to full-time undergraduate students majoring in education and intending to teach at a Hawaii public school.

• Continuing college students: Scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each are awarded to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a career in education. Preference is given to HEA members, their children and/or their grandchildren.

• Graduating high school seniors: Scholarships in the amount of $2,000 each are awarded to graduating high school seniors enrolling in an accredited two-year or four-year college. This scholarship is open only to HEA members, their children and/or their grandchildren. Preference is given to those intending to major in education.

The deadline to apply for any of the scholarships has been extended to noon May 14.

For information about scholarship criteria and to access application forms, visit hawaiieducationassociation.org.