Cathryn A. & Lawrence G. Hupka Endowment for Innovative Educators

Purpose
The Fund is established to provide scholarships to students who, through their life experiences and hard work, display a passion for becoming excellent teachers. As a former educator, Cathryn understands that great teachers will go above and beyond to be innovative, attentive and creative in order to meet the needs of their students, and that is why grades and other traditional measures of academic achievement are not essential for this award. Cathryn’s daughter, Jennifer, is a dedicated Kindergarten teacher and mother. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jennifer went above and beyond to keep her students engaged and excited about learning despite being in an online environment. This type of innovation and passion is what makes Lawrence and Cathryn excited to support future teachers at Cathryn’s alma mater.

Criteria
• Be meeting the University’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements and cannot be in default or owe any refund/repayment of federal, state or institutional aid
• Have financial need as determined by FAFSA/CASFA and the University’s Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships
• Be an undergraduate student
• Submit a 500-word essay addressing the points below to demonstrate your commitment to and potential for teaching in PreK-12 settings: Describe a time when you overcame an obstacle that seemed insurmountable. What excites you the
most about becoming an educator? How do you plan to foster creativity and innovation within your own classroom? As a future educator, explain why grades are not always the best indicator of a student’s potential. Feel free to use a personal
experience within your explanation.
• Be enrolled/admitted in one of the following School of Education Teacher Education Programs:
Africana Studies Major (with Secondary Social Studies Teacher Licensure)
Art Education Major
Biology Major (with Secondary Science Teacher Licensure)
Chemistry Major (with Secondary Science Teacher Licensure)
Chicano Studies Major (with Secondary Social Studies Teacher Licensure)
Early Childhood Education Major (with Early Childhood Teacher Licensure)
Economics Major (with Secondary Social Studies Teacher Licensure)
Elementary Education Major (with Elementary Teacher Licensure)
English Major (with Secondary English Teacher Licensure)
Environmental Science Major (with Secondary Science Teacher Licensure)
History Major (with Secondary Social Studies Teacher Licensure)
Master of Arts in Teaching: Elementary Education
Master of Arts in Teaching: Elementary Education (Alternative Licensure)
Master of Arts in Teaching: Special Education
Master of Arts in Teaching: Special Education (Alternative Licensure)
Math Major (with Secondary Math Teacher Licensure)
Modern Languages Major (with K-12 World Languages Teacher Licensure)
Music Education Major
Physical Education Major
Physics Major (with Secondary Science Teacher Licensure)
Political Science Major (with Secondary Social Studies Teacher Licensure)
Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure: Early Childhood Education
Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure: Elementary Education
Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure: K-12 Art Education
Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure: K-12 Physical Education
Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure: K-12 World Languages
Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure: Secondary English
Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure: Secondary Math
Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure: Secondary Science
Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure: Secondary Social Studies
Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure: Special Education
Special Education Major (with K-12 Generalist Special Education Licensure)