Toyota TAPESTRY Program Now Accepting Entries for 21st Annual Science Grant Competition

/PRNewswire/ -- Celebrating its 21st anniversary, the Toyota TAPESTRY Grants for Science Teachers program, the largest science teacher grant program of its kind in the nation, is now accepting entries for the 2011-2012 program year.

Sponsored by Toyota Motor Sales, (TMS) U.S.A., Inc., and administered by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), the program offers $10,000 grants to K-12 teachers for innovative science projects that enhance environmental science education in their school and/or district over a one-year period.

Fifty $10,000 grants totaling $500,000 will be awarded this year. Individual science teachers or a team of up to five teachers can submit proposals in the category of environmental science education. Subcategories from which applicants may choose include: biotic (all living factors) and abiotic (all non-living factors such as pollution, oil, energy, human interventions, water, soil, air, temperature, etc.)

"For 21 years Toyota TAPESTRY Grants for Science Teachers have provided thousands of teachers and students the opportunity to further explore the wonders of science. The focus on environmental science for this year's awards is important and will help both teachers and students to better understand and appreciate critical environmental issues that can and will have an impact on our nation's future," said Francis Eberle, NSTA executive director. "We greatly value our relationship with Toyota and applaud them for their commitment to science education."

The focus on environmental education is a shift from previous years when proposals also were accepted in the areas of physical science and integrating literacy and science. The emphasis closely reflects Toyota's global mission to work in cooperation with society by building relationships with those making environmental preservation a priority, and also aligns with the trend that NSTA has seen in the rising percentage of applications submitted to the environmental science education category.

"The new concentration of this year's Toyota TAPESTRY program allows us to maximize our ability to encourage solutions that lead to greener communities and greener technologies," said Jim Lentz, TMS president and chief operating officer. "Toyota is honored to be celebrating more than two decades of recognizing exceptional teachers who inspire students to form passionate connections with science. We look forward to enhancing environmental education as a result of our continued partnership with NSTA and America's educators."

A judging panel convened by the NSTA will select the award-winning projects based on several criteria, including the teachers' innovative approach to teaching science and their ability to create a stimulating, hands-on learning environment.

Applicants must either be an elementary teacher who teaches science in the classroom or a middle or high school science teacher, with a minimum of three years teaching experience. Applicants must be residents of one of the 50 states or a resident of Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, or the U.S. territories including American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

For more information about the Toyota TAPESTRY Grants for Science Teachers program or to learn how to apply, visit http://www.nsta.org/pd/tapestry/. Applications must be submitted no later than February 23, 2011 to be considered.

Since the program's inception in 1990, Toyota TAPESTRY grants totaling more than $9.2 million have been awarded to science teachers across the country. More than 2,000 teachers have used those funds to develop and execute extraordinary programs that helped hundreds of thousands of students nationwide make real-world connections with science.

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Department of Defense to Award $45 Million in College Scholarships

/PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is currently seeking scholarship applications from undergraduate and graduate students nationwide who are enrolled in science or technology programs for the prestigious Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program. SMART is an opportunity for students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines to receive a full scholarship and be employed upon degree completion at a DoD research facility. The DOD expects to award 300 scholarships this year worth a total of $45 million.

"The SMART Scholarship Program is one of the nation's most generous scholarship programs funded by the Department of Defense to help support education and job placement for America's next generation of scientists and engineers," says Deborah Shifflett, SMART Program manager.

Scholarships awarded include a cash award of $25,000 to $41,000 a year, full tuition, required fees, health insurance allowance, and book allowance. The program is intended for citizens of the United States; students must be at least 18 years of age to be eligible for an award.

The SMART Program is administered by the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE ) and the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS). For more information, or to apply online, please visit: http://smart.asee.org/. Applications must be received by December 1, 2010.

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NASA Invites High School Students to Apply for Inspire Project

/PRNewswire/ -- NASA's Interdisciplinary National Science Program Incorporating Research Experience, known as Inspire, is accepting applications from high school students through June 30. NASA will make selections in September.

The selectees will participate in an online learning community in which students and parents have the opportunity to interact with their peers and NASA engineers and scientists. It also provides appropriate grade level educational activities, discussion boards and chat rooms for participants and their families to gain exposure to the many career opportunities at NASA.

Students selected for the online learning community will have the option to compete for experiences during the summer of 2010 at NASA facilities and participating universities throughout the nation. The Inspire project is designed to encourage ninth through 12th grade students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math. The summer experience provides students a hands-on opportunity to investigate education and careers in those disciplines.

The Inspire project is part of NASA's education strategy to attract and retain students in the science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, disciplines critical to NASA's missions.

For information about the project, including details about how to apply, visit:


http://www.nasa.gov/education/INSPIRE

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Georgia State University Receives Record Number of Applications

A record number of high school seniors have applied to Georgia State University for next fall.
As of March 1, the university’s application deadline, GSU received 10,504 applications for fall 2009 from freshmen – a 25 percent increase over last year’s record of 8,409.

Fall 2009 transfer applications were also up more than 13 percent, with 2,390 received compared to 2,107 last year.

“This dramatic increase in applications is evidence that Georgia State University is fast becoming a destination of choice for freshmen and transfer students,” said GSU President Mark Becker. “The opportunities at Georgia State are amazing for students who want to pursue their educations in the heart of Atlanta, with all of the business, community engagement and cultural richness that the city has to offer.”

Many factors are credited for driving the application increase, including new, targeted recruitment strategies, said Scott Burke, GSU director of admissions.

“Our goal this year was to continue to grow the applicant pool, increase our visibility among prospective students, be a part of conversations at dinner tables and in guidance counselor offices and we definitely achieved that,” Burke said.

The surging interest in GSU also can be attributed to the increasing recognition of the university’s quality academic programs, enhanced campus-life and student housing opportunities, and to the economy.

Also, the new Panther football program, set to begin in fall 2010, and new construction projects, such as a Freshmen Residence Hall and multi-million dollar science center, have created a buzz about GSU.

Over the last decade, GSU has made great strides, transforming from its commuter school roots into a major urban research university that meets the needs of both traditional and non-traditional students.

Last fall, GSU had its largest freshman class in history with 2,753 first-time, first-year students. The overall student body for the 2008-2009 year is 28,175 graduate and undergraduate students.

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Atlanta Braves High School Scholarship, Presented by Publix Super Markets, Available Now to Graduating Seniors

For the tenth consecutive year the Atlanta Braves and Publix Super Markets have partnered to offer high school scholarships to graduating high school seniors throughout Georgia. Six $2000 scholarships will be awarded to students who have demonstrated strong community involvement as well as solid academic performance throughout their high school careers.

Applications are available at braves.com/community and at public and private high schools throughout Georgia. Students with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 should submit an application along with:

• One letter of recommendation
• A letter of acceptance from a college or university for the fall 2009 semester
• An essay describing how the applicant has made an impact in their community
• Completed applications must be postmarked by March 31, 2009.

Scholarship recipients will be honored during an on-field presentation prior to the Atlanta Braves home game on May 2, 2009 vs. the Houston Astros. Each winner will be presented with a check for $2000 by an Atlanta Braves player and a representative from Publix Super Markets. All applicants will receive a Braves promotional item.

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UCB Announces 2009 Rheumatoid Arthritis Scholarship Program

/PRNewswire/ -- Applications are now being accepted for the 2009 UCB Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Scholarship Program. The program, now in its second year, will award 30, one-time scholarships of up to $10,000 each to patients diagnosed with RA or their immediate family members who are seeking an associate's, undergraduate, or graduate degree or enrolled in a trade school educational program. RA is a progressive autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints, often making even the simplest everyday tasks very difficult to undertake.

"The UCB Rheumatoid Arthritis Scholarship Program offers this award to students who demonstrate extraordinary strength and perseverance to fulfill their academic ambitions despite challenges posed by rheumatoid arthritis," said Michael Weinblatt, M.D., chairman of the scholarship selection board.

Applicants are selected by a group of nationally known rheumatologists, health care professionals and advocates. Applicants are judged on their academic ambition and their demonstrated ability to overcome the limitations associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

"The UCB RA scholarship reflects our company's commitment to provide patients and their families with resources to help them reach beyond the boundaries of their disease," said David Robinson, a vice president and general manager at UCB. "It is our goal that this scholarship program will enable the winners to further their education and enjoy the benefits that this accomplishment will offer."

More information about the program is available at www.reachbeyondra.com/scholarship or by calling 888.854.4996.

About the 2009 UCB Family RA Scholarship

This program is designed for students of any age who have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or the immediate family member of a person with rheumatoid arthritis. Applicants must be legal and permanent residents of the United States and must be diagnosed by a physician. Only those who are seeking an associate's, undergraduate, or graduate degree, or enrolled in a trade school educational program; or enrolled in/awaiting acceptance from a United States-based institution of higher education for the fall semester of 2009 may apply. Applicants must also be individuals who demonstrate academic ambition and embrace a way of life that overcomes the boundaries of living with RA. Employees of UCB and their immediate family members are not eligible for this scholarship.

Applications are available to download on www.reachbeyondra.com. Applicants must submit a hard copy of the application, along with all additional listed components, for eligibility. All applications must be postmarked by March 20, 2009; applications postmarked after this date will not be considered.

Selection of recipients will be at the sole discretion of a panel of judges comprised of medical professionals chosen by UCB. Winners will be notified by June 22, 2009 with both a personal telephone call from UCB and a confirmation letter.

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Chemistry Scholarships Available

(NAPSI)-African-American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian students are among those who can now apply for a scholarship from the American Chemical Society (ACS) Scholars Program. The program is open to high school seniors and college freshmen, sophomores and juniors.

The program awards renewable scholarships of up to $5,000 to underrepresented minority students who want to enter the fields of chemistry or chemistry related fields, such as environmental science, toxicology and biochemistry. The program also aims to help build awareness of the value and rewards associated with careers in chemistry and assist students in acquiring skills and credentials needed for success.

Applications-available online at www.acs.org/scholars or by sending an e-mail to scholars@ acs.org-will be accepted through March 1, 2009, for the 2009-2010 school year. Students must plan to major in or already be majoring in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering or a chemically-related science, and they must plan to pursue a career in the chemical sciences. Scholarships range from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on college level and economic need.

The ACS Scholars Program won the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring in 2001. Since its inception, the ACS Scholars Program has awarded more than $10.8 million to more than 1,990 students, based on a mix of academic achievement and financial need. Through the support of the program's partners and donors, the Society expects to award approximately $1 million during the 2009-2010 academic year to both new and continuing scholars.

To date, 95 percent of the students accepted into the ACS scholars program have received an undergraduate degree, 80 percent in a chemical science. In addition, about 400 scholars have continued on to pursue a graduate degree. More than 150 have been accepted into a Ph.D. program and more than 40 scholars have already received a Ph.D.

"We need many talented chemical scientists to help find new cures for disease, new energy sources and new ways to feed a hungry world," according to Scholars manager Robert Hughes, who notes there are many diverse job opportunities for chemistry graduates.

The American Chemical Society Scholars Program was established in 1995 to attract African-American, Hispanic and American Indian students considered underrepresented in the chemical sciences by the National Science Foundation to pursue careers in the field.

For additional details and a paper application form, call (800) 227-5558 ext. 6250, send an e-mail to scholars@acs.org or visit www.acs.org/scholars.

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