NEWPORT NEWS — The National Science Foundation awarded Christopher Newport University a $1.1 million grant to address a critical need for teachers in the science, technology, engineering and math fields.
NSF’s Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program was created to encourage prospective STEM college majors and other professionals to become teachers in elementary and high schools, according to the scholarship website. The national program provides funding such as scholarships, stipends and other support to colleges across the country, Christopher Newport University being one of them.
NSF awarded the funding specifically to a team of four CNU professors: George Kuster, assistant professor of mathematics and project leader, Lisa Webb, associate professor and department chairwoman of molecular biology and chemistry, Jean Filetti, director of the Teacher Preparation Program, and Sara Lenhart, lecture professor of mathematics, for a recruitment initiative at the university, according to a CNU news release.
The purpose of the project is to recruit and train 24 students who are pursuing a discipline in a STEM major as part of the NSF’s scholarship program.
Students will have multiple opportunities for paid internships and will also receive a $15,000 scholarship for up to two years.
“We intend to train the future teachers to use research on student thinking and learning and reflections on their experiences to develop and refine effective student-centered lessons,” Kuster said. “We anticipate that this training will also encourage participants to continually seek to improve their instructional practices.”
For information about the National Science Foundation’s Robert Nocye Scholarship Program, click here.
