The Mikkelson Mathematics and Science Teachers Scholarship Fund

2012 Program and Application Information

Purpose of the Fund:

The purpose of The Mikkelson Mathematics and Science Teachers Scholarship Fund is to encourage and reward excellence in the teaching of mathematics and science. We believe that an extremely important element for improving the level of science and mathematics competence is to generate, in students, the desire to learn and understand how things work. Increased interest in science can be encouraged by knowledgeable and enthusiastic teachers, who can make the subject matter relevant and understandable. Our goal is to identify such teachers and provide them with opportunities to renew or advance their knowledge and enthusiasm.

Our interest is in preparing students for success in technical fields that require a strong understanding of and competence in advanced mathematics and science. Our focus is on the improvement of the individual teacher's technical skills and knowledge.

The Fund provides scholarships for teachers to choose and attend short courses, seminars, and workshops which will improve their depth of knowledge of the subject(s) which they teach. It is expected that the courses will include significant math and/or science content which can be applied directly to classroom instruction. These programs generally occur in the summer, but requests from teachers who would like to attend programs that occur at other times of the year are also considered.

We provide support for attendance at:

• Courses, seminars, and workshops which will enhance a teacher’s knowledge of scientific and/or mathematical subject areas.
• Courses, seminars, and workshops which will improve a teacher’s ability to teach science and/or mathematics.

We do NOT provide funds for:

• Advanced degrees, CEUs, or graduate credit fees
• Programs that focus on curriculum development
• Programs that focus on methods of teaching or “how to teach” a particular subject or skill
• Programs that focus on teaching computer skills, teaching with technology, or improving a teacher’s computer skills
• Expenses related to attending programs with students in which the focus is on student learning
• Expenses related to attending conferences that are not focused on scientific or mathematical content
  

Eligibility:

Elementary, middle, and high school teachers who are currently employed full-time in a Colorado school are eligible to apply.

Applications are accepted from individuals only. Each applicant must submit his or her own application. Applications requesting support for more than one person will not be considered.

Applicants who are related to or have a financial relationship with a fund donor, a selection committee member, or a board member or employee of The Denver Foundation are not eligible to apply for a scholarship.

Application Review:

Proposals are evaluated on their likelihood to support the Mikkelson Mathematics and Science Teachers Scholarship Fund's goals and to provide the applicant with knowledge and skills which can be used to improve their teaching abilities. The main evaluation focus is on the possibility for improvement of scientific and technical knowledge and/or hands-on learning experiences in science and mathematics. The applicant’s experience level, plan for using what is learned in the classroom, and the quality of the program in which he or she would like to participate will also be considered.

Funding is awarded on a competitive basis. Your chance of receiving funding will depend on the quality of your application and the number of teachers who apply for funding. Approved proposals may be funded in full or partially funded. Please note funding requests for programs that have a vacation-type element generally are not funded in full. Previous recipients are welcome to apply for a new grant, but preference will be given to strong applicants who have not preciously received a grant if a high number of applications are received.

The schedule for 2012 is:

Deadline for early decision applications	1/27/2012
Early decision notification	2/24/2012
Deadline for applications	3/28/2012
Notification	4/16/2012

Applications must be received at the offices of The Denver Foundation by 5:00 PM on the due date. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications received by the early deadline for programs that occur later in the year may be deferred to the second deadline.

All applicants will be notified of the committee’s decision via email.

To Apply:

Submit the information listed below via mail, fax, or email. So that the selection committee can easily compare applications, please number each item and present them in the order listed below. We ask for home instead of work information so that we can contact recipients during the summer as well as the school year. If mailing your application, do not use staples or any binders other than paper clips.

Part A. Applicant Information

1. Full Name
2. Home Address
3. Home Phone Number
4. Email Address (notification will be made via email to this email address)
5. School District
6. Name, address, and phone number of the school at which you are currently employed full-time
7. Your current position, the grades and courses you teach, and (if applicable) brief description of other responsibilities
   
8. A brief description of your education, your background, and your teaching experience
9. A brief description of any special interests or projects with which you are involved that might be relevant

Part B. Funding Request

10. Name of the course, seminar, or workshop that you would like to attend
11. Program information – In detail, describe the program you would like to attend, what you expect to learn, and why the program meets the funding criteria for the Mikkelson Mathematics and Science Teachers Scholarship Fund. Do not assume the selection committee will be familiar with the program in which you are interested. Do not refer the committee to a website. The nature of the program you would like to attend is very important to the evaluation of your application. Be sure to provide a thorough description.
12. How would attending this program further your skills and/or ability to provide excellent instruction and inspiration to your students? Explain, in detail, how you would use what you learn in your classroom in the future.
13. Program Dates
14. Application Deadline
15. Cost Breakdown – please list, in detail, the estimated costs related to attendance at the program of your choice. You can request funding for course registration fees, materials required for attendance, accommodations (room cost only), and/or travel expenses. Recipients will be required to provide receipts. 
16. Total Amount of Your Request for Funding
17. Approved proposals may be funded partially or in full depending upon the number of applications received and the amount available to award. So that the selection committee does not allocate money that an individual will not be able to use, please note here if you will only be able to attend the program if you receive full, or a certain amount of, funding.

Send applications via mail, email, or fax to:

The Mikkelson Mathematics and Science Teachers Scholarship Fund
The Denver Foundation
Attention: Karen Bellina
55 Madison Street, 8th Floor
Denver, Colorado 80206

Email:   kbellina@denverfoundation.org          Fax Number: 303/996-7349

If you do not receive an email confirming that your application has been received, please call Karen Bellina at 303-996-7348.

Questions?

Ifyou have questions about the Mikkelson Mathematics and Science Teachers Scholarship Fund, please contact Karen Bellina with The Denver Foundation at 303-996-7348 or kbelllina@denverfoundation.org

Questions related to other Mikkelson programs should be referred toinformation@mikkelson.com