Scholarship available for future educators

GREENCASTLE -- Current college students aspiring to become future educators have an opportunity to receive a scholarship.

The Putnam County Retired Teacher's Association will award $500 to a third or fourth-year college student working on a degree in education. The recipient must be a Putnam County high school graduate and enrolled in an undergraduate program at an Indiana college or university.

In 2009, North Putnam High School graduate Nicole Smith was awarded the scholarship. She attends Indiana State University and is dual majoring in elementary education and special education.

Smith said in her application she wanted to make a difference in the life of a child by being a special-needs teacher. She talked about her passion for teaching and her inspiration -- former Bainbridge Elementary second-grade teacher Katie Lewandowski.

Her application was the first to be received by the Putnam County Retired Teachers Association member Marilyn Martin last year. This scholarship is awarded annually with the intent of encouraging and assisting students, like Smith, who are planning a future in education.

Interested students must submit a letter of application, which includes the applicant's name, current address, name of high school and year of graduation along with a brief (one to two printed pages) description of personal interests, experiences in a supervisory capacity with children or adults and aspirations and progress toward a career as an educator.

Applicants must also include a letter of recommendation from a Putnam County high school teacher, who is not a relative, a letter of recommendation and a scholastic transcript from the college or university verifying the applicant's current enrollment and academic status. Other information the applicant may feel is pertinent can be included.

Applications should be mailed to Martin, the scholarship chairperson, at: 2275 S CR 800W, Greencastle, IN 46135. Applications must be received by March 31.