ICTM CollegeScholarships

The Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics will be presenting its annual Scholarships in Mathematics Education in October of each year.  ICTM has been awarding Scholarships to college students since 1989.  You can see a list of past winners here. See our current winners at the bottom of this page!

There will be up to three scholarships granted of $1,500 to help defray educational expenses of the recipients. Awardees also get a free 1-year ICTM membership, free registration to the annual ICTM conference, and an ICTM board mentor. You can help ensure that these scholarships are available for future generations by donating to the scholarship fund.

To be eligible for the 2022-2023 scholarship, a student must:

  1. Be enrolled as a junior or senior in an accredited university or college in Illinois during Spring 2023 with a graduation during May 2023 or later.
  2. Be working on their first bachelor’s degree with an intent to teach in Illinois upon graduation.
  3. Be a mathematics education major, a mathematics major with an education minor, an early childhood major, or an elementary education major.
  4. Have a total overall GPA of at least 3.00 from all colleges attended (based on 4.00).
  5. Submit digital copies of the following through the ICTM Scholarship Submission Portal:
    1. A completed ICTM scholarship application form that includes:
      1. Applicant information
      2. Two 200-300 word essays
      3. A complete lesson planning form
    2. Transcripts from ALL COLLEGES ATTENDED.
    3. Letters of recommendation from two mathematics or mathematics methods teachers, high school or college. These letters must state the capacity in which the writer knew the applicant and address their potential as a mathematics teacher.
    4. Some verification of the applicant's enrollment in a teacher education program (e.g. letter from advisor, copy of registration materials, notation on transcript etc.)

Applications will be scored by a committee of readers using the following evaluation rubric:

  • Application information = 5 points (completeness, GPA, clarity)
  • Activities = 10 points (how strongly are the work/leadership/extracurricular activities from your college years connected to mathematics and/or teaching?)
  • Essay #1 = 10 points (writing quality, anticipated contribution to teaching mathematics, enthusiasm for teaching and mathematics)
  • Essay #2 = 10 points (writing quality, degree to which the question selected is answered, quality of the answer to the selected prompt)
  •  Lesson Planning Form = 15 points (clarity and appropriateness of objectives/goals, level of student engagement opportunities, methods of evaluating student understanding, clarity of flow of lesson which includes introduction and closure)

You may download and complete the 2022-2023 fillable PDF version of the application here.  Completed applications need to be submitted by May 9, 2023. Winners will be contacted in September 2023.  Questions regarding the application process may be directed to Ms. Cory Gilroy at [email protected] Once you've gathered all of the materials listed in item 5 above, submit your documents in our online portal.

 

The 2022 Scholarship Awardee:

 Alvarado

 

Andrina Alvarado - Illinois State University

I am a student at Illinois State University and will be graduating in December 2022. I will graduate Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Mathematics and a minor in Civic Engagement & Responsibility. Growing up, I have always had the desire and drive to be an educator, wishing to further the understanding and appreciation of mathematics of others. There is great value in teaching relevant mathematics to our students, passing along additional skill sets that will assist many of them now and in the future. Some great opportunities and contributions to my development as an educator include being inducted as a 2019 Golden Apple Scholar and having taught Mathematics, Literacy, and organization as a Tier 3 MTSS Instructor at University High School for several years, working closely with many faculty members to identify and provide additional supports to our students. In addition to this I have worked as a math tutor, co-directed and volunteered as a mentor at a local tutoring center, and worked temporarily in a main office at the high school level. I am excited to be able to have a classroom to call my own come this spring and can’t wait to continue my growth as an educator!
 Katie

Katie Kochendorfer - University of Illinois

I am a student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I will graduate in May 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, minors in Secondary Education and Spanish and endorsements in Middle School Math Education and ESL. As a big sister to three younger siblings, I always knew I wanted to work with kids but didn’t realize my passion for teaching until high school. Throughout my own experiences within education, I’ve always had a passion and desire to learn and grow. I can’t wait to cultivate this same passion within my students. Some amazing opportunities that have contributed to my growth as an educator have been being a Golden Apple Scholar and participating in Summer Institutes for the past few years. At UIUC, I’ve been a teacher for a freshman introductory course, a teaching assistant for a pre-calculus course, a math tutor and a campus tour guide. I’m also a proud member of my college dance team and teach dance classes at my home studio over breaks. I look forward to being a dance team coach or advisor for a dance group at my future school. I’m so excited to student teach in Spring 2023 and look forward to learning alongside my students in my own classroom next year. 
 

Elisabeth Warden - Illinois State University

Beth was raised in Beardstown, IL and is currently teaching algebra and geometry at Rantoul Township High School. She graduated summa cum laude and with honors in mathematics from Illinois State University in May 2022. At ISU, Beth was involved on campus, serving as president of the Mathematics Education Club and a volunteer at Math Tutoring Club. She was named a 2021-2022 Bone Scholar and is also a Noyce Scholar and Golden Apple Scholar. Her past areas of research, which have led to two publications, include biomathematics; pure mathematics, including graph theory and squigonometry; and mathematics education, focusing on the use of young adult literature to teach high school mathematics. She began volunteering at the Migrant and Newcomer Education Program over the summer in her hometown of Beardstown in 2018, and served as a teacher in this program in 2022. She has also designed and offered a free summer STEM camp for youth in her community to experience the joy mathematics and science have to offer. She is enjoying being in the classroom full-time this year and getting to teach math in engaging and relevant ways to her students.