{"id":46583,"date":"2019-08-23T07:53:11","date_gmt":"2019-08-23T12:53:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=46583"},"modified":"2019-08-23T07:53:15","modified_gmt":"2019-08-23T12:53:15","slug":"%ef%bb%bffhsu-fills-need-for-teachers-in-rural-areas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=46583","title":{"rendered":"\ufeffFHSU fills need for teachers in rural areas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Randy Gonzales
<\/strong> University Relations and Marketing
<\/em> Cayla Steinert\u2019s interest in science started at a young age. Her road to becoming a biology teacher got a boost last spring when she was named a Noyce scholar at Fort Hays State University.

Steinert is on campus this fall as the first transfer student to receive a Noyce scholarship through FHSU\u2019s partnership with five Kansas community colleges.

Steinert, who transferred to FHSU from Garden City Community College, is one of six FHSU students who received $13,750 for tuition, books, and room and board, through the Robert Noyce Scholarship Program. Noyce scholars agree to teach in high-need areas, mainly rural, for two years for every year a grant is accepted.

Choosing FHSU to continue her education especially pleases Steinert\u2019s mom, Tina, who has two teaching degrees from Fort Hays State. It also was her mom who got her Steinert interested in science in the first place.

When she was in first grade, Steinert wanted to know all about her mother\u2019s cancer diagnosis. It was her way of coping with her mom\u2019s illness.

\u201cI was really interested in how everything worked,\u201d Steinert said. \u201cThat kind of kick-started my love for science.\u201d

Steinert\u2019s mom remembered her then 7-year-old\u2019s approach to that scary \u201cC\u201d word, cancer. Explaining the jargon to her daughter provided a little understanding for her.

\u201cThe nurses and doctors allowed her to ask questions and be involved,\u201d Tina Steinert said. \u201cShe had always been interested in how the human body works. Science was something she gravitated to.\u201d

Now, Steinert is on to track to receive her bachelor\u2019s in two years and pursue her master\u2019s degree at FHSU while teaching at the high school level.

Fort Hays State has been helping students with college expenses through the Noyce Scholarship Program since 2012.

The university applied to the National Science Foundation for a grant seven years ago and received $1.2 million for scholarships. The NSF awarded Fort Hays State an additional year of funding, and the school was encouraged to apply again. FHSU successfully wrote another grant, and the $1.45 million it was awarded covers five years of scholarships and will run through 2023.

Steinert said she had no preference where she teaches after graduation but knows it will be where she is needed most.

Dr. Paul Adams, dean of the College of Education and professor of education and professor of physics at FHSU, calls Noyce \u201cthe Super Bowl of scholarships.\u201d

\u201cThe NSF wants institutions that will prepare the best science and mathematics teachers who can be leaders in their communities, who will make a difference in these high-need communities,\u201d he said.

The scholarship, eligible for juniors and seniors only, can be renewed for a second year.

\u201cThe process of getting this means you have to be a scholar, must have potential to be a leader, to work in an area in our state and nation that needs the best possible science and mathematics teachers,\u201d Adams said.

Steinert is eager to meet others in the program. She already connected with a Noyce scholar at a ceremony on campus recognizing first-time recipients last spring.

Kate Westerhaus, a Junction City senior at Fort Hays State, completed her first year as a Noyce scholar in May. Like Steinert, she plans to teach biology upon graduation.

Westerhaus, former president of the STEM education club, said Noyce scholars are required to fulfill six hours of community service each semester.

\u201cWith this scholarship, it\u2019s not just about the money,\u201d Westerhaus said. \u201cThere are so many connections. Our university truly is unlike any other because of our science and math programs.\u201d

The 2019-2020 Noyce scholarship recipients are listed with their classifications, hometowns, and majors:

First-time recipients<\/strong>
Seth Boxberger, junior, Russell, mathematics education
Kole Clarke, senior, Lyons, biology education
Nicolas Schmidt, senior, Hays, (TMP-Marian) mathematics education
Ethan Shippy, junior, Hays, (Hays High) biology education
Cayla Steinert, junior, Olmitz, (Garden City CC) biology education
Judson Tillotson, junior, Whitewater, mathematics education

Second-time recipients<\/strong>
Alexis Meinert, senior, Garden City, mathematics and secondary education
Diana Sabados, senior, Brighton, Colo., mathematics and secondary education
Chantal Solozano, senior, Dodge City, biology and secondary education
Joshua Stark, senior, Liebenthal, chemistry and secondary education
Kate Westerhaus, senior, Junction City, biology and secondary education
Lauren Zerr, senior, Russell Springs, mathematics and secondary education <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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