Steenson selected for UNK Teachers Scholars Academy

Forty students will receive full-tuition scholarships to attend the University of Nebraska at Kearney as members of the Teachers Scholars Academy.

These recent high school graduates represent 33 communities in Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas. Their average ACT score is 23.5 and their average high school GPA was 3.87.

Elli Steenson of Phillips was one of these 40 students.

“Students selected to the Teachers Scholars Academy are part of an elite group,” said academy coordinator Emily DeVall. “Their passion, energy and hard work are noted across campus and in the community.”

In its second year, the Teachers Scholars Academy was created to make college more affordable for prospective educators and grow the teacher workforce in Nebraska. The program is open to incoming freshmen majoring in education.

More than 100 candidates applied for this year’s cohort. An admissions and scholarship committee selects the 40 scholars based on academic achievements, interviews and other prerequisites.

Each student selected for the Teachers Scholars Academy receives a scholarship covering their full tuition – up to 120 credit hours – plus $8,000 annually for education expenses such as housing, books and food. At today’s tuition per credit hour at UNK, the scholarship package is worth roughly $57,000 over four years.

Students also receive academic support through the academy, which is funded by the William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation and Sherwood Foundation.