School of Education
Undergraduate Awards and Scholarships
Below are opportunities for awards and funding through the University of Delaware, the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), and external organizations that support teacher education and recognize undergraduate achievement.
Delaware Association for the Education of Young Children (DAEYC) Student Leadership Award
A two year membership in a selected chapter of the Association for the Education of Young Children is awarded to the student who has shown leadership skills and contributed to the advancement of the goals of DAEYC.
CEHD Panel of Outstanding Seniors
Seniors are chosen who have achieved a cumulative index of 3.5 or better with a minimum of 45 earned hours of academic work at the University and who have evidence of professional commitment.
Judy Cohen Schwartz Scholarship
Award given to a student in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies or a special education major in the School of Education who demonstrates academic excellence and financial need and is committed to a career working with people with developmental disabilities.
Baker Memorial Award for Excellence in Social Studies Education
This award is presented to a graduating K-8 teacher education senior who has demonstrated an exceptional passion for teaching social studies at the elementary and/or middle school level. This includes a demonstrated pattern of interest and creativity in teaching social studies as through planning, instruction, and assessment.
Susan McLaughlin Scholarship
The Susan McLaughlin Scholarship is awarded annually to a student in CEHD who demonstrated outstanding character, motivation, discipline, and promise in the pursuit of their undergraduate degree. Past recipients continue to be eligible. Students with less than a 3.0 GPA are considered.
Theodore S. Beck Scholarship
Scholarship is awarded annually to students enrolled in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD). Selection is based upon academic performance and college recommendation.
Wallace H. Maw Scholarship
Awarded ($1,000) to an undergraduate student majoring in either the Department of Human Development and Family Studies or School of Education. Criteria: Based on Academic merit and financial need.
Irma Ayers Scholar Award
The Irma Ayers Scholar Award is an intercollege monetary award to a sophomore (28-59 credits) in the department with the highest cumulative index for the first three semesters of enrollment at the University with a minimum of 9 credit hours in the College.
Delaware Association of School Administrators Award (DASA)
An award presented by the Delaware Association of School Administrators to a graduating senior in education who has demonstrated outstanding qualities of scholarship, leadership and character and gives promise of making a meaningful contribution to the teaching profession.
Phi Delta Kappa Award
An award presented by the Delaware Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa to an undergraduate teacher education student who shows evidence and promise of excellence in educational research.
AAUP Undergraduate Student Award
Each year, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) presents two undergraduate student awards to outstanding seniors who plan to attend graduate school in preparation for an academic career in university or college teaching or research. Each award is $2,000 and is to be used to defer expenses related to graduate school.
Criteria: be in senior year, demonstrate outstanding academic work, exhibit a high level of involvement in campus life, have a commitment to a career in teaching and research in higher education, and have applied to graduate school.
All students eligible for this award will be contacted by the AAUP office. Applications are sought in January.
In addition to awards and honors, there are opportunities for undergraduate students to apply for additional funding to engage in research and projects of their own design.
Dean’s Scholar Program
The Dean’s Scholar Program exists to serve the needs of these extraordinary students by allowing them to design, in consultation with faculty advisors, imaginative and rigorous individual plans of study to meet the total credit hours required for graduation. It is expected that the course of study outlined by the Dean’s Scholar candidate will represent a program that cannot be effectively achieved using other options already available within the University. For more information visit the Dean’s Scholar website.
CEHD Summer Scholars
The Summer Scholars Program enables selected undergraduates, generally sophomores and juniors, to conduct in-depth research or creative work with University faculty. Students in the Summer Scholars Program work on their projects full-time for ten weeks in the summer and continue to complete three credits’ worth of research in the following academic year. Research and creative work is generally completed under the close supervision of a faculty member. The research done during the academic year may be part of the senior thesis for the Degree with Distinction or Honors Degree with Distinction. Each Scholar will receive a stipend of $3,000 and a summer housing allowance of $500. For more information visit the Summer Scholars website.
The David A. Plastino Scholars Program
The Plastino Scholars Program was established in 2007 by a gift from UD alumnus David A. Plastino. The Program awards study grants to selected undergraduate students at the University of Delaware who exhibit extraordinary talent, promise and imagination. The grants support self-designed, off-campus learning experiences that make a transformational difference in the lives of Plastino Scholars and enable them to pursue a passionate interest to a degree not otherwise possible. Normally, four Plastino Scholars will be awarded each year. The amount of each award will depend on the nature of the experience proposed. Except in unusual circumstances, the maximum individual award will be $6,000. For more information visit the Plastino Scholars website.
Visit the CEHD financial aid page to learn more about available opportunities.
University of Delaware Financial Aid
The University of Delaware offers several funding and scholarship opportunities for both prospective and current undergraduate students across all majors. For more information, contact the Office of Student Financial Services at (302) 831-2126 or sfs-advisor@udel.edu.
University of Delaware Alumni Association Scholarships
The University of Delaware Alumni Association offers scholarships for outstanding students.
Delta Kappa Gamma International Society Award, Alpha Chapter
Monetary awards are presented to a full-time freshman, sophomore, junior and senior enrolled in a teacher education program. Selection is based upon outstanding scholarship and active participation in education-related activities. The student should exhibit qualities that demonstrate future promise in the field of education.
Education Alumni Association Scholarships
Four $2,000 scholarships presented by the School of Education’s Alumni Association to juniors or seniors in a teacher education program who exhibit exceptional promise as educators. GPA 3.25 or better. Presented to recipient: Certificate from the Dean.
- The Frank B. Murray Scholarship
- The Education Alumni Award
- The Claude Spencer Scholarship
- The William B. Keene Scholarship
Kappa Delta Pi Sophomore Book Award
An award presented to a sophomore in teacher education who has achieved a minimum cumulative index of 3.0 and who has exhibited outstanding scholarship, leadership, and service.
Karen Beck Scholarship Award – Alpha Delta Kappa (Eta Chapter)
An award ($1,000) presented to one full-time junior enrolled in a special education teacher education program. Selection is based on outstanding scholarship and active participation in activities involving individuals with special needs. The recipient should exhibit qualities that demonstrate future promise in the field of special education.
Phi Delta Kappa Award
Award presented by the Delaware Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa to an undergraduate teacher education student who shows evidence and promise of excellence in educational research.
Additional Scholarships with Varying Criteria
For additional scholarships with varying criteria, visit UD’s webpage on Additional Funding Opportunities.
- Federal Student Aid
- Federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness
- Delaware’s High Needs Educator Student Loan Payment Program. If you teach in a Delaware high-needs school and/or a high-needs subject area, you can apply for a newly created student loan repayment program. If eligible, you can receive $1000-$2000 in repayments annually for up to 5 years.
- Scholarships for Education majors
- Walter Stark Scholar Award
- Cecil County Memorial Scholarship
- TEACH Grant Program. Visit their grants web page for more information
- STEM Teacher Scholarships (middle school math and science)
- Christa McAuliffe Teacher Incentive Program
- Delaware Teacher Corps
- Daniel and Lois Gray Memorial Scholarship for students at UD pursuing a major and a subsequent career in the field of autism (special education, speech path, etc.)
- Adults with Autism Scholarship for adults with autism spectrum disorder pursuing post-secondary opportunities.
- Autism Certification Scholarship for special education teachers seeking funding to help them pay for classes toward their autism certification.