Sister Mary Petronia Van Straten Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Wisconsin Mathematics Education Foundation

Overview
The Wisconsin Mathematics Education Foundation offers a $2,000 scholarship for students enrolled in a Wisconsin teacher education program majoring in Elementary or Secondary Education. Applicants must meet the eligibility rules below and submit the required materials by the deadline.

Eligibility
To qualify, applicants must:
- Be a Wisconsin resident and be currently enrolled in a Wisconsin public or private teacher education program.
- Be pursuing a teacher preparation program (Elementary or Secondary Education major).
- Be enrolled in, or have completed, a course that includes instruction in teaching mathematics.
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 (B average) or higher.

Application deadline and submission
- Deadline: March 1st.
- Submit all application materials via email to wmef@wismath.org. Include the applicant’s full name on every document and place the applicant’s name in the email subject line.

Required materials
(All word-processed using 12-point Arial or a similar font unless otherwise noted.)

A. Official transcript showing grades and verification of junior, senior, or graduate standing. An electronically submitted photocopy of the official transcript is acceptable.

B. Two letters of recommendation from instructors. Each letter should address:
1. The applicant’s leadership abilities.
2. Activities the applicant has participated in related to teaching their major.
3. Specific observations of the applicant’s teaching quality.
4. The writer’s assessment of the applicant’s potential for success as a teacher.
5. The writer’s experience and relationship with the applicant.

C. A list of all college-level mathematics, statistics, or computer science courses completed. Provide the full course title for each and indicate which courses include statistics, computer science content, and/or technology.

D. A list of courses still required to complete program certification.

E. A list of activities, honors, and professional organization memberships that demonstrate an interest in mathematics education.

F. One or two paragraphs (maximum one page) on the role of technology as a tool for teaching and learning mathematics.

G. One or two paragraphs (maximum one page) on the role of data analysis and statistics in the curriculum.

H. An essay (no longer than two pages) addressing:
1. A current issue in mathematics education that particularly interests you.
2. Your commitment to ongoing professional development, including participation in the Wisconsin Mathematics Council and other professional organizations.

Formatting note: Items F, G, and H must be double-spaced, in 12-point Arial or a similar font, with one-inch margins.

Submission details
Email the complete application package and supporting documents to wmef@wismath.org. All files must clearly identify the applicant by name; include the applicant’s name in the email subject line. Scanned copies of official transcripts are acceptable.

Selection and evaluation
Applications will be assessed by the Selection Committee using these weights:
- Academic record and teacher evaluations: 40%
- Essay responses (F, G, H): 60%

The Selection Committee’s decision is final.