Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships
Woodrow Wilson-Rockefeller Brothers Fund (WW-RBF) Fellowships for Aspiring Teachers of Color
Information Sheet
Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships at the UA Honors College
Ms. Emily Kotay, Scholarship Advisor (621-0162; )
Dr. Karna Walter, Assistant Dean for Student Engagement, The Honors College (621-6546; )
What is the WW-RBF Fellowship?
The purpose of the WW-RBF Fellowship, administered by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, is to help recruit, support, and retain individuals of color as K-12 public school teachers in the US. The Fellowship includes a stipend for a master’s degree; preparation in a high-need public school; guidance toward teaching certification; and lifelong membership in a national network of Fellows. Fellows commit to three years of teaching in an urban or rural school district.
Who is eligible for the WW-RBF Fellowship?
WW-RBF Fellowship applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Self-identified person of color.
- Graduating with a Bachelor’s in Fall 2014, Spring 2015, or Summer 2015.
- U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Substantial background in the arts and sciences and high academic performance with a cumulative GPA above 3.0.
- Not currently in a program leading to teacher certification.
Who is competitive for the WW-RBF Fellowship?
Successful applicants will, first and foremost, demonstrate a commitment to teaching in high-need urban and/or rural schools. They will be able to show through their resumes how they have already begun to demonstrate such a commitment. In addition, successful applicants will be able to express insight into the unique needs of urban and/or rural schools and how they will be able to contribute to these schools.
What is the application process for the WW-RBF Fellowship?
The application process for the WW-RBF Fellowship is online and on paper. Applications consist of the following:
- Application form with educational background and master’s program preferences.
- Essay on the applicant’s interest in teaching in an urban or rural school and what special skills, insights, and perspectives that the applicant would bring to the classroom. (500 words maximum.)
- Essay on how the applicant might help a student who is struggling to learn the subject material in the applicant’s class. (500 words maximum.)
- Two letters of recommendation. One must be from a college professor or faculty member. The letters should comment on the applicant’s character, commitment to education and service, and capacity to work in high-need urban/rural contexts.
- Resume, which should include educational and professional experience; awards, fellowships, sports, or other extracurricular activities; and volunteer experience, especially with adolescents or in an under resourced community. (This is the most important of the application. 3 pages maximum. Must be emailed as an attachment, separate from the online application.)
- Official transcripts.(In sealed envelopes.)
Applications to master’s programs are done separately. The UA can nominate up to 2 students for the WW-RBF Fellowship. Fromno more than 100nominees, 25 finalists will be interviewed by the Woodrow Wilson Selection Committee on an interview day in November. At least 8 of these finalists will be selected as Fellows. Students from the UA were selected as Fellows in 2012 and 2011.
What is the timeline for the WW-RBF Fellowship?
- September 24, 2014 – UA application deadline
- Week of September 29, 2014 – UA nominations and feedback
- October 9, 2014 – UA deadline for nominees’ revised applications
- October 15, 2014 – Final application deadline
- November 2014 – Finalist interviews
- December 2014 – WW-RBF Fellows notified
What is my next step if I am interested in applying for the WW-RBF Fellowship?
Because this award requires a campus nomination, you must contact Emily Kotay with the ONCS to start working through the application process.