Program Overview
The WISE (Wildcat Initiative for STEM Education) program provides scholarship funding to junior and senior science and mathematics students at WSC who are also pursuing teaching endorsement credentials in the state of Nebraska. WISE is funded through the National Science Foundation's Robert Noyce Scholarship Program which seeks to encourage talented mathematics, science, and engineering students and current science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) professionals to pursue teaching careers.
Noyce WISE Scholars
Eligible juniors and seniors at WSC may apply to become Noyce WISE Scholars. The amount of the scholarship will be up to the cost of attendance per semester with a maximum of four semesters of funding possible. Each semester of support after the first semester is dependent on the student maintaining satisfactory academic progress (defined by WSC). Each student will be informed of their maximum award possible when they are initially offered the scholarship. Recipients accept the scholarship with the understanding that it carries with it a service obligation. More specifically, in exchange for the scholarship, the recipient agrees to teach in a “high-need local educational agency” for one year for each semester of the scholarship assistance.
Noyce WISE Interns
Freshman and sophomore STEM education majors are encouraged to participate in Noyce activities as WISE interns. This opportunity offers early exposure to the Noyce program. As WISE Interns enter their junior year, they become eligible to apply to become Noyce WISE Scholars. WISE interns may be paid for participation in grant activities as part of this program.
Supervising Faculty
Dr. Mary Kuchta
Dr. Christian Legler
Dr. Al Mitchell
Acknowledgements
The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, authorized under the National Science Foundation, responds to the critical need for K-12 teachers of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) by encouraging talented STEM students and professionals to pursue teaching careers in elementary and secondary schools.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Award No. 2150890.