Scholarships and fellowships in literacy

Doctoral students in the literacy program are eligible for appropriate scholarships and fellowships from the Graduate School and the college, as well as specific fellowships and scholarships in literacy.

Distinguished Reading and Language Arts

Amount: One 50% graduate assistantship award available Fall 2008; includes tuition benefits.
Deadline: Applications due on the fall deadline for application for admission to the program.
Award date: Awarded every three years
Contact: Professor David O’Brien, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, 612-625-5337, dobrien@umn.edu

Criteria: Awarded to an incoming Ph.D. student who demonstrates academic aptitude and a commitment to literacy education. The assistantship seeks to promote diversity within the literacy program through the recruitment and support of academically excellent students from diverse backgrounds. Special consideration will be given to candidates whose teaching and work experiences have been grounded in urban or rural educational settings, and whose research interests focus on issues of diversity, or on communities traditionally underserved by our schools and educational research.

Application: Please complete the CEHD Scholarship Application. Provide two letters of recommendation from current faculty members. Submit a copy of your most recent transcript. In a personal statement, explain why you are applying and what makes you a worthy recipient of this scholarship. All application materials should be submitted to David O’Brien, 358 Peik Hall.

Sidney and Marguerite Henry Fund

Amount: One three-year graduate assistantship; 50% for the first year, and 25% for two additional years (supplemental 25% teaching assistantships available) available fall 2008; includes tuition benefits.
Deadline: Applications due on the fall deadline for application for admission to the program.
Award date: Awarded every three years
Contact: Professor Lee Galda, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, 612-625-3310. galda001@umn.edu

Criteria: Awarded to an incoming Ph.D. student whose focus is children’s literature. The award is made on the basis of academic record, experience, and statement of purpose for doctoral study. The assistantship entails work in the Children’s Literature Research Collections, Andersen Library, as well as in the department.

Application: Please complete the CEHD Scholarship Application. Provide two letters of recommendation from current faculty members. Submit a copy of your most recent transcript. In a personal statement, explain why you are applying and what makes you a worthy recipient of this scholarship. All application materials should be submitted to Lee Galda, 350A Peik Hall.

Norine Odland Endowment for Children’s Literature

Amount: One annual award of $2,000
Deadline: Applications are due to the Children’s Literature faculty by December 15
Award date: Spring semester
Contact: Professor Lee Galda, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, 612-625-3310. galda001@umn.edu

Criteria: For an M.A. or Ph.D. student whose major is children's literature. The student must have had teaching or library experience, have finished coursework, and be ready to work on either their thesis or dissertation. Along with the award to the student, the Odland Endowment will provide $4,000 for the student to purchase books for children and young people in the Fairview University Hospital

Application: Please complete the CEHD Scholarship Application. Provide two letters of recommendation from current faculty members. Submit a copy of your most recent transcript. In a personal statement, explain why you are applying and what makes you a worthy recipient of this scholarship. All application materials should be submitted to Lee Galda, 350A Peik Hall.

Robert Schreiner Memorial Endowment

Amount: One non-renewable annual award of $2,500
Deadline: Applications are due to the Literacy program area coordinator by December 15
Award date: Spring semester
Contact: Professor David O’Brien, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, 612-625-5337, dobrien@umn.edu

Criteria: Intended to support dissertation research in reading education, this award supports a doctoral student in literacy education who has completed oral and written comprehensive examinations and had a dissertation prospectus approved.

Application: Please complete the CEHD Scholarship Application. Provide two letters of recommendation from current faculty members. Submit a copy of your most recent transcript. In a personal statement, explain why you are applying and what makes you a worthy recipient of this scholarship. All application materials should be submitted to David O’Brien, 358 Peik Hall.

Dora V. Smith Scholarship Fund

Amount: One-year 50% graduate assistantship award available fall 2007; includes tuition benefits.
Deadline: Applications are due on the fall deadline for application for admission to the program.
Award date: Awarded every three years
Contact: Professor David O’Brien, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, 612-625-5337, dobrien@umn.edu

Criteria: For incoming Ph.D. student in literacy education who shows unusual promise as demonstrated by academic aptitude and character.

Application: Please complete the CEHD Scholarship Application. Provide two letters of recommendation from current faculty members. Submit a copy of your most recent transcript. In a personal statement, explain why you are applying and what makes you a worthy recipient of this scholarship. All application materials should be submitted to David O’Brien, 358 Peik Hall.

Dr. Frances O. Triggs Memorial Fund

Amount: One 50% graduate assistantship award available Fall 2006; includes tuition benefits.
Deadline: Applications are due on the fall deadline for application for admission to the program.
Award date: Awarded every three years
Contact: Professor David O’Brien, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, 612-625-5337, dobrien@umn.edu

Criteria: Open to Ph.D. candidates who (a) are full-time graduate students in literacy education through the current academic year or will be full-time through the next academic year, (b) have an approved program on file at the Graduate School, and (c) have passed the written and oral preliminary examinations. The thesis must deal with some aspect of literacy education. The $5,000 fellowship is intended to assist the recipient in the completion of his/her dissertation. It is non-renewable.

Application: Please complete the CEHD Scholarship Application. Provide two letters of recommendation from current faculty members. Submit a copy of your most recent transcript. In a personal statement, explain why you are applying and what makes you a worthy recipient of this scholarship. All application materials should be David O’Brien, 358 Peik Hall.

November 2005