Learning & Behavior Specialist II
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Auditory/Oral Specialist
The following scholarships are available for the 2008–2009 academic year, and will be awarded at the Family Weekend Scholarship and Awards Program in October 2008. Scholarship amounts are current best estimates. Scholarship availability and size may change due to fluctuations in endowments.
If you apply for a need-based award, your financial record in the ISU Financial Aid Office will be checked. To be eligible for consideration for financial aid at Illinois State University, you must have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the current year.
(1 award, $3,000) Candidates must be entering undergraduate or graduate students who are pursuing initial certification through study in the Special Education Department, who have strong academic achievement as evidenced by a 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale. Preference will be given to students who have demonstrated financial need and to non-traditional students who have left a teaching or teaching assistant position to pursue initial certification in special education.
The Bansau Trust Fund Awards were established through the estate of Margaret Bansau, who designated Illinois State University as a recipient of a charitable trust. Through her trust she expressed the desire that a part of the income be used for scholarships for students who intend to teach students with disabilities, and that these scholarships be known as the "Bansau Scholarships." Margaret had polio as a young child and during her life carried 40 pounds of iron braces on her legs. She did not go to college but respected those who could and did. She left over $1.3 million for the education of children and young adults with disabilities, and for those who teach in the field of special education. Her passion was to see that students with disabilities would be given the chance to learn and the chance to give back in return through teaching, mentoring, and strengthening. She died in 1999 at the age of 83. View photos of Margaret Bansau (pdf). Read a special message to the Margaret Bansau Scholarship Award winners from Mr. Gil Barner (Margaret Bansau's cousin) (pdf).
(1 award, $1,000) The recipient should be a full-time sophomore or junior majoring in Special Education, who has an overall GPA of at least 3.0, and who shows evidence of community service and volunteer activity.
The Waneta Sedgwick Catey Scholarship was established in 1999 by Waneta Sedgwick Catey, who served as an Illinois State Normal University faculty member from 1936–1945 and 1946–1952. In addition to supervising rural student teachers, she also served as principal of the special education school at Fairchild Hall. Mrs. Catey was a graduate from the University of Illinois and held a master's degree from Colorado State University. She was a member of Pi Lambda Theta, Delta Kappa Gamma, Beta Sigma Phi, the Illinois Education Association and the National Education Association. The purpose of this scholarship is to help students complete their education in the field of special education.
(1 award, $4,500) The recipient should be a full-time junior or senior special education major with at least a 3.0 GPA. The recipient should demonstrate commitment and skills to teach mentally handicapped students, be nominated by written recommendation of a faculty member, and be a graduate from a public high school in Illinois. The Ward Scholarship is renewable to the student for the second year, as long as the qualifications continue to be met.
The James and Edith Aagesen Ward Scholarship Trust Fund was established in 2002. Mr. Ward created the scholarship just prior to his death in February of 2002 with the hope that those who benefit from it will "Gladly Teach" and enjoy teaching as much as he and his wife, Edith, did. Both graduates from Illinois State Normal University in the early 1940s, James and Edith had each received scholarships and participated in the work-help program at ISNU to fund their educations.
Edith was certified to teach elementary and secondary levels, and later earned state certification to teach "Educable Mentally Handicapped" (E. M. H.) students. She was honored by being made a life member of the State of Illinois PTA by her school district's association. James was an active student leader and athlete at ISNU. He also earned a Master of Arts from Northwestern University, and later became a teacher and coach at the high school level, then a principal, and then a superintendent for one of the first unit districts in Northern Illinois.
(1 award, $1,000) The recipient must be a major in special education, preferably with a specialty in deaf and hard of hearing education, who demonstrates financial need, and has strong academic achievement, as evidenced by a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The award is to be used for educational expenses.
Amy O'Reilly Fisher was a devoted mother, wife, and educator. She received degrees in deaf education (Illinois State University, 1993) and educational administration (Governors State University, 2002), and her career with special needs and deaf children spanned 10 years. She always went the extra mile to ensure her students received whatever was needed to succeed despite their challenges. The Amy's Gift Endowed Scholarship Fund was established by Amy's family for the purpose of providing financial support for a student majoring in Special Education, with a preference for Deaf and Hard of Hearing majors. The endowment recognizes Amy O'Reilly Fisher's extraordinary contributions to her students and the community, and allows her legacy to inspire and empower others for many years to come.
(1 award, $1,000) The recipient must be a major in special education, preferably with a specialty in Low Vision and Blindness, who demonstrates financial need, and has strong academic achievement, as evidenced by a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The award is to be used for educational expenses.
This scholarship was established to honor Vivette Ravel Rifkin who dedicated her life to assisting persons who are blind and/or visually-impaired. Mrs. Rifkin began reading books to help her daughter Jill learn. Realizing that other individuals had the same need, Mrs. Rifkin founded Educational Tape Recording for the Blind (ETRB) in Chicago, leading the organization for over 42 years. Mrs. Rifkin, who had graduated from high school at age 16 and received no further education, taped in her lifetime more than 3,000 college and graduate school textbooks. Her life-long commitment to the field of educating individuals with visual impairments resulted in her being awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1999. With the Vivette Ravel Rifkin Memorial Scholarship Fund, Mrs. Rifkin’s family, friends and the ETRB seek to further the education of Illinois State University students who will spend their professional lives teaching those with visual impairments.
(This scholarship will be awarded to last year's recipient per the scholarship criteria.) The recipient must provide evidence of financial need, meet all admission requirements, demonstrate volunteer or paid experience with persons with disabilities, and be committed to a career in teaching persons with disabilities.
The Kelley Dennis Scholarship was established by the family of Kelley Dennis, an Illinois State University special education alumna. Sadly, Kelley died in an automobile accident shortly following her graduation. This scholarship provides an incoming LD/BD Special Education major or freshman, tuition and fees or a portion thereof for eight continuous regular semesters, or five continuous regular semesters if a transfer student.
(1 award, $700) The recipient must be entering his/her senior year, preferably in the field of Learning Behavioral Specialist 1, within the Department of Special Education. The recipient should demonstrate financial need and have strong academic achievement, as evidenced by a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The award is to be used for educational expenses.
The purpose of the Alexander Montgomery Memorial Scholarship Fund is to provide financial assistance to a senior at Illinois State University majoring in special education, with a preferable specialty in teaching those with learning disabilities.
(1 award, $500) Candidates for this scholarship should have a history of commitment to individuals with significant disabilities, demonstrated through volunteer or paid experiences. Candidates must demonstrate strong potential as future teachers and advocates for students with significant disabilities. Candidates must be juniors or seniors with a grade point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale in the field of Learning Behavioral Specialist 1 within the Department of Special Education.
This scholarship was created by donations in memory and in honor of Dr. Meg Hutchins, who was a passionate and committed teacher educator and supportive mentor. She set high expectations for her students and provided exemplary instruction and support as they strove to meet those expectations. She dedicated her career to enhancing opportunities for people with significant disabilities.
(1 award, $1,000) The recipient must be a full-time junior or senior student majoring in special education who has been or is currently a student employee in the Department of Special Education. The recipient should have good academic standing as evidenced by a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, and submit an essay which describes his/her record of community involvement, and future career and educational goals.
This scholarship was created by Nancy Daniels who retired in December of 2007 from her position as administrative assistant in the Special Education Department. She was employed at Illinois State University for twenty years. With the exception of one year, her whole career was spent in the Special Education Department. She was proud to have been part of Illinois State University and wanted to give back to the University which had been such an important part of her life. As a part of her work, she mentored student employees and enjoyed working closely with these students, and getting to know them personally. She always felt that Special Education student employees were of the highest quality, cared deeply for the profession they were entering and worked hard at balancing academics and a work schedule.
(1 award, $500) The recipient must be a junior or senior in special education, enter a field-based program during their next academic year, and show outstanding academic performance. A letter of recommendation from a university supervisor is required.
The Lawrence D. Vuillemot Scholarship was established in 1990 by friends and relatives as a living memorial to honor Mr. Vuillemot. Mr. Vuillemot had been a long-term good friend of the Special Education Department and Illinois State University, having laid the ground work for the special education field-based program. Mr. Vuillemot was the superintendent and special education director in the Special Education District of Lake County, one of the pioneer special education cooperatives in Illinois.
(1 award, $500) The recipient must be a special education major, demonstrate superior academic achievement, and have a record of community involvement.
The Marie Struble Johnson Scholarship was established in honor of Marie as a living memorial to her by her brother. Marie Struble Johnson was a 1917 graduate of Illinois State Normal University. The scholarship was established through an endowment to support honor scholarship programs. This award provides financial support for an outstanding student in the field of special education.
(1 award, $600) The Heimsoth Family Award honors outstanding undergraduate and graduate students in special education, rehabilitation, or related human services. The recipient must be a junior, senior, or graduate student in special education, who has a record of service to persons with disabilities.
The Heimsoth Family Scholarship was established by Mr. Thomas Heimsoth to encourage alumni and faculty to contribute financially to Special Education. Mr. Heimsoth is a 1965 graduate of Illinois State and serves on the Illinois State University Foundation Board of Directors.
(1 award, $500) Candidates must be continuing undergraduate or graduate students who have a minimum 3.0 grade point average, a record of service, and are from an underrepresented group (non-white), OR have a minimum 3.0 grade point average and a demonstrated record of service to diverse populations.
The Diversity Recognition Award funds come from Special Education alumni. The purpose is to recognize undergraduate and graduate minority students for choosing ISU to further their education and for choosing special education as a career.
(1 award, $4,000) Recipients should be either juniors, seniors, or graduate students in the department, with special consideration given to those in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing sequence. Two letters of recommendation from faculty are required.
The Wanda and Dale Weaver Endowed Scholarship and Fellowship Fund was established in 2002 by the Weavers to provide financial support to graduate and undergraduate students planning to teach persons who are deaf or hard of hearing. Wanda Weaver earned her B. S. in Education from the Special Education Department at Illinois State in 1964, with a major in deaf and hard of hearing. She subsequently taught at the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and the Cincinnati Public Schools. Dale Weaver graduated from the University of Illinois and had a 36-year career with General Electric. Together, they decided to create this award to give back to the institution from which Wanda earned her education.
(2 awards, $7,000 each, divided equally over the recipients' remaining semesters) The recipients should be full-time graduate or undergraduate students in special education in either the Deaf and Hard of Hearing or Visual Disabilities sequence, who demonstrate a GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
The Evelyn J. Rex Scholarship was established in 2000 by Dr. Evelyn J. Rex, who served and taught on the Special Education faculty at Illinois State for 30 years, retiring in 1991. Dr. Rex earned her B.S. in Education from Southern Illinois University, her M. A. from Northwestern University, and her doctorate from George Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville. Her devotion to literacy for the visually impaired and training teachers of students with special education needs was a constant source of fulfillment for her. She established this scholarship to assist students who show promise as future teachers of children with the low-incidence disabilities of vision and hearing impairments.
(1 award, $1,000) The recipient must be a special education major who has completed 60 to 90 semester hours with a record of service to persons with disabilities.
The Dean S. Hage Memorial Fund was established in 1980, upon the death of Dr. Dean Hage who served Illinois State University as a professor of Special Education for 20 years, 1959–1979. This fund was established by members of his family, colleagues at the University, and many former students and friends to recognize and reward special education majors who intend to teach following graduation.
(1 award, $1,000) Recipients must be juniors or seniors in special education with a minimum GPA of 3.0. They must also be role models among prospective teachers.
Established by Mrs. Kelli Stackhouse Appel in 1990, this scholarship encourages special education majors to achieve high standards of academic work and professional development. Kelli Stackhouse Appel graduated from Illinois State University in December of 1989. While at Illinois State, Mrs. Appel was an outstanding student and was appointed as one of the 1989–1990 Bone Scholars.