Student Teacher Scholarship

Available to student teachers serving WiRSA member schools.

2021-2022 Spring Student Teacher Scholarship Winners

Garrett Schreiber
Region 1
College / UW-Superior
Student Teaching / Lodi School District

My name is Garrett Schreiber and I am excited to start my teaching career! I am currently a student teacher at the Lodi School District. I also grew up and graduated from Lodi High School in 2016. I enjoyed my time as a student in Lodi and have always preferred small towns over big cities. I do have experience living in both, and although the city has plenty to offer, I personally enjoy the small town and the sense of community that goes along with it. After high school, I went to UW-Whitewater and graduated with a degree in finance. I worked as a banker at Summit Credit Union for about 2 1/2 years but decided to go back to school to get my teaching degree from UW-Superior. I was able to utilize the online program Superior offered to continue to work for Summit and get my teaching degree at the same time. Outside of academics, I enjoy fishing, hunting, playing sports, and being active. I have enjoyed my student teaching experience thus far and can’t wait to lead my own classroom in the near future!

Jared Quinn

Region 2

College / UW-Platteville
My name is Jared Quinn! I grew up in Evansville, Wisconsin, and if there were two things I would want anyone to know about me they would be that I really love agriculture, and I also really love technology. At first, this may seem like an unusual pairing, but I can assure you it’s far from it! My hope is that, as an Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor, I can help break the mold of the current Ag curriculum and start integrating the importance of coding and network engineering as agriculture increases its technological needs. I feel like rural students are often barred from this experience, and I want to let them know it is just as much for us as it is for anyone else. 

Kayln Speicher

Region 3

College / UW-Superior

Student Teaching / Gilman School District

Hello! My name is Kayln Speicher. I grew up in Thorp on my parent's farm. I spent a lot of time helping in the barn and in the fields. I graduated from Thorp High School in 2013. I went on to pursue my degree in Human Services, and decided in 2019 I wanted more. I have always loved children and pursuing my degree in Elementary Education was exactly what I was looking for. I am now a senior at UW-Superior. I have pursued my degree online while taking care of my family. I have a daughter who is 6 years old and a son who is 8 months old. I love teaching and inspiring students! I can't wait to have my own classroom in the very near future!

Gina Graveen

Student Teacher in Region 4

College / UW-Eau Claire

Student Teaching / Edgar School District

Hello! My name is Gina Graveen. I am currently an intern with the fifth grade class at Edgar Elementary. I am a senior at UW-Eau Claire, where I'm majoring in Elementary Education with a minor in Math Teaching. I am excited to graduate in December and officially start my teaching career. I am hoping to obtain a teaching position with an Elementary or Middle School in a rural district. I grew up going to and am now interning at a rural Elementary school and love the environment. I am excited to be able to apply everything that I've learned throughout my program into my own practice and classroom. I am also looking forward to collaborating with all the other teachers for the betterment of our students. 

Details

In response to the tremendous need for educators in rural areas, it is with pleasure that the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance (WiRSA) offers an annual scholarship program specifically for Student Teachers. To qualify, the applicant must be student teaching (interns are not eligible for this scholarship) at a participating member schools that is in good standing.

The scholarship will be awarded annually to one student teachers from each of the four membership regions of Wisconsin as specified in the organization’s bylaws. Each recipient will receive a one-time cash scholarship of $750 to be used by the student to help defray the costs while student teaching and related expenses. A written essay is required for the application that expands on the following information:

  • Why do you want to teach in a rural school?

    1. What impact can you have on rural students?

Guidelines

  • To qualify, must student teach at current paid WiRSA member school.

  • The scholarship will be awarded to one student teacher from each of the four membership regions of Wisconsin as specified in the organization’s bylaws. If any of the four scholarships are left over due to lack of applications from a region the next highest score(s) will be granted the remaining scholarship(s)

  • There will be no discrimination made as to this scholarship based on race, color, religion, national origin or sex, either by WiRSA or participating member schools.

  • Each recipient will receive a one-time cash scholarship of $750 to be used to help defray the costs of student teaching and related expenses.

  • The funds will be distributed directly to the recipient upon submittal of confirmation of student teaching placement.

  • Each university’s School of Education and WiRSA Members School is responsible for distributing to its student’s information pertaining to the scholarship application, rules and guidelines.

  • Entries must be emailed or postmarked to the WiRSA Director no later than Aug 18 to be eligible for the Fall Scholarship or January 8 for the Spring Scholarship.

  • WiRSA will appoint a scholarship committee consisting of members of its board of directors to determine the winners of the scholarship for each region.

  • Regional winners will be notified directly by email.

  • The scholarship winners will be announced by September 1 for the Fall Scholarship and by February 1 for the Spring Scholarship.

  • All application and essays shall be submitted to the executive director of WiRSA.

  • Any placement changes must be reported and may impact the validity of the award.