NEA-Retired members have made the act of giving one of the centerpieces of their work—and the Jack Kinnaman Memorial Scholarship is a testament to their commitment to helping others. The scholarship—created 20 years ago in memory of Jack Kinnaman, former vice president and advisory council member of NEA-Retired—helps aspiring educators fund their schooling, with awards of $2,500 per student. Scholarships are granted to those who demonstrate financial need and involvement in their NEA campus chapter.
Congratulations to the four inspiring students who won scholarships in 2019—up from three last year! Here the winners share how the scholarship has advanced their education.
Susan Arns—music education and Spanish major, Western Illinois University, in Macomb.
“Receiving the scholarship has allowed me to focus more on my schooling and to continue to be involved in great organizations, which have trained me to be a better educator.” Arns graduated in December 2020 and credits her campus chapter with helping her develop leadership skills.
Monica Ordoñez— early childhood through sixth grade major/bilingual certification, University of Houston, in Texas.
“I didn’t qualify for financial aid this semester, and then the Kinnaman scholarship came along, helping me to accomplish my goals and passion of becoming an elementary school educator.” Since joining her Aspiring Educator chapter, Ordoñez experienced the power of community engagement through partnerships between her campus chapter and local schools.
Tiffany M. Timpel— elementary education major and math minor, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
“The scholarship has taken the extra stress off my plate, because I normally have to work to pay for my tuition. Instead, I’ve been able to student teach and partici- pate in edTPA.” A strong organizer, Timpel’s efforts tripled her chapter’s membership.
Emma Todd—special education major and music minor, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
“Student teaching is a full-time job, and having this financial assistance means I can more fully focus on my students without financial strain.”
While on campus, Todd organized workshops on mental health and LGBTQ rights for aspiring educators.
HOW TO APPLY:
Complete the NEA-Retired Jack Kinnaman Memorial Scholarship application at nea.org/kinnaman.
TO QUALIFY:
Applicant must be an NEA Aspiring Educators member who meets all of the application criteria. All items for the scholarship application must be submitted as one package including application, recommendation letters, and an official university or college transcript. Submissions that are incomplete or not received by the deadline will be disqualified.
DEADLINES:
For current deadlines and application information, go to: https://www.nea.org/resource-library/jack-kinnaman-scholarship.
