State farm scholarship supports racial minority teachers

Bellingham Business Journal, Sept, 2008

Western Washington University has been awarded a $4,500 grant by State Farm for the Future Teachers of Color Promise Scholarship program at Woodring College of Education.

Bellingham State Farm agent Jim Harber, who serves on Woodring's Community Leadership Advisory Council, worked with the company to secure the grant.

State educational agencies, the governor and school districts have all designated the recruitment of minority teachers as a top priority for teacher education programs, in keeping with the greater need created by increasing numbers of minority students.

Woodring's Promise Scholarship program supports students just prior to entering Woodring and may be renewed for their first year in the teacher preparation program. To date, $70,500 from various private funding sources, in collaboration with the Western Washington University Foundation, has been awarded to 28 students.