DURHAM — WGU North Carolina, an affiliate of the accredited online Western Governors University, will observe National Teacher Appreciation Week May 3-7 by offering up to 50 scholarships totaling $200,000. These scholarships are intended for current and future education professionals who wish to pursue bachelor’s or master’s degrees in WGU’s Teachers College, the nation’s largest college of education by enrollment.
Each WGU Loves Teachers Scholarship is valued up to $4,000 and is designed to help current teachers improve their skill set in the classroom or move into administration, or to assist professionals in obtaining the required credentials for a rewarding future career as an educator. Tuition is around $3,250 per six-month term for most degree programs, and students can take as many classes per term as like, with consent of their WGU mentor.
Nearly 1,000 North Carolinians have earned degrees from WGU’s Teachers College, and more than 60 have received the WGU Loves Teachers Scholarship in previous years. Nationally, WGU’s Teachers College has graduated more than 50,000 educators in every state in America and currently enrolls more than 33,000 students.
According to recent data from the Federal Bureau of Labor and Statistics, North Carolina lost more than 27,000 education jobs—K-12, higher education and community colleges—between February and September of 2020. The Annual Report on the State of the Teaching Profession found that there were 3,107 teacher vacancies in North Carolina at the start of the 2020-2021 school year.
New and enrolling WGU students may apply for the scholarship now through June 30 at wgu.edu/teacherappreciation. Each scholarship will be credited to the student’s account at the rate of $1,000 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms. Scholarships will be awarded based on a candidate’s academic record, financial need, readiness for online study at WGU, current competency, and other considerations.
“This past year, the COVID-19 pandemic really highlighted the value of teachers, especially those who demonstrated creativity and resiliency in finding ways to connect with their students online and in person,” said Kim Estep, Vice President, Southeast Region for WGU. “We are incredibly honored to support the continued learning and hard work of next-generation teachers and leaders with the WGU Loves Teachers Scholarship.”
For more information about WGU North Carolina, visit nc.wgu.edu or speak to an enrollment counselor by calling 866-903-0109.
