Commitment to Recruit, Educate, and Assist Teachers in Equity (CREATE) Scholarship

Commitment to Recruit, Educate, and Assist Teachers in Equity (CREATE) provides scholarships, individual mentoring by NCC faculty and NCC alumni, cohort communities to support well-being and culturally responsive teaching, and new teacher induction in an effort to develop and retain secondary STEM teachers to work in high-needs schools.

As a CREATE scholar, you will receive a scholarship whose specific amount is determined by financial need annually during your junior and senior undergraduate years at North Central College. The award will cover unmet need, including direct and indirect costs, up to the Cost of Attendance. Additionally, CREATE is more than just a scholarship. It is a supported effort to help students maximize their college experience and prepare for a career in secondary STEM education. CREATE will set you on the path to success by building important connections during your junior and senior years of college and during your first years of teaching. You will be connected to faculty and in-service teachers through a mentoring program, and to your fellow students in a learning community focused on equity and well-being.

An individual awarded a scholarship must serve as a full-time STEM teacher in a high-need local education agency (LEA) for a total of two years for each full-year scholarship received, to be fulfilled within eight years after completing the degree program. North Central faculty will assist students in finding appropriate placements to fulfill this obligation. Failure to do so will result in you needing to repay the scholarship funds.

The scholarship is funded by a grant to North Central from the National Science Foundation’s Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program.

Eligibility Criteria:
• Provide proof of U.S. citizenship, be a U.S. national or have permanent resident status
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Coursework and teacher-related experience appropriate for junior-level standing in STEM/education
• Double major in secondary education and a STEM field licensed by NCC (biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, or mathematics)
• Write a personal essay
• Complete an interview with one of the program faculty (to be scheduled during application review)
• Sign agreement for loan repayment if scholarship criteria are not met

Note: CREATE has been designed specifically to benefit students who demonstrate financial need, verified via the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). However, all students who meet the eligibility requirements are encouraged to apply.

This scholarship is renewable provided the recipient continues to meet the scholarship criteria, remains in good standing, and makes satisfactory progress toward an undergraduate degree. Renewal eligibility is confirmed with department faculty and the Office of Financial Aid each year.