Golden Apple Scholarship Program for Teachers
The Golden Apple Scholarship of Illinois program is a teacher preparation and tuition assistance program for freshmen and sophomores in Illinois colleges who have the ambition and determination to work as highly successful teachers in Illinois’ underserved schools.
Seniors in high school are eligible. In the most rigorous learning contexts, they equip future educators with both short- and long-term success.
To be eligible for a Golden Apple award, the student must commit to working five years as a full-time teacher at a nonprofit Illinois public, private, or parochial preschool or an Illinois public elementary or secondary school that has been designated as a school of need.
Scholars Receive:
- Up to $23,000 in total financial assistance for college, inclusive of paid Scholar Institutes
- Extensive classroom teaching experience
- Academic and social-emotional support
- Job placement assistance
- Mentoring from our award-winning teaching faculty
About Golden Apple Scholarship
Golden Apple encourages excellence in educators, especially in institutions serving underprivileged populations.
Through creative programming, Golden Apple identifies and rewards great educators. These people then provide
hands-on, individualized mentoring to help preservice educators and Golden Apple Scholars grow as teachers and individuals. This is important now since the nation needs more instructors than before.
Through its Scholars and Accelerators programs, Golden Apple will significantly contribute to addressing the teacher shortage by increasing the pool of diverse, highly effective educators.
Golden Apple Scholars and Accelerators are state-of-the-art teacher training programs that turn out outstanding teachers with immediate impact.
Golden Apple elevates both professions by honoring outstanding educators with the Golden Applle Awards for Excellence in Teaching & Leadership.
The Golden Apple Scholars and Accelerators programs, where they train and support prospective teacher make a substantial contribution to the development of the future generation of educators.
Program Eligibility Requirements
Entry Points
- High school Class of 2023
- College Freshmen and Sophomores at Partner Universities in Illinois
- Community college students in Illinois
General Requirements
- U.S. citizen, eligible non-citizen or DACAmented student and resident of Illinois
- Illinois High School Senior, Illinois Partner University Freshman or Sophomore, Illinois Community College Student.
- Academic Requirements
- Every application submitted to Golden Apple Scholars receives a holistic review. This means every piece of your application is reviewed and considered in order to make a decision. One single item does not determine your application decision.
Completion Requirements
- Meet ISAC program requirements
- Must have a 5 GPA
- Participation in Golden Apple Scholar Institutes
- Code of conduct compliance
- Bachelor’s degree from an Illinois Partner University
- Illinois teaching certification
- Teach for five years in an Illinois school of need within 7 years of graduation
Golden Apple Scholars Application Process
- Complete the online application including references and personal statements.
- Upload Unofficial Transcripts
- Standardized Test Scores (ACT or SAT)
- Standardized test scores are optional and not required for acceptance to the Golden Apple Scholars Program. The review committee will closely review the strength of course selection, G.P.A., grade trending, personal statements, and overall involvement for students wishing not to submit test scores.
- Students accepted into the Scholars program must submit test scores after induction to assist in research purposes.
- Home school students are required to submit test scores for application review.
- Participate in prospective Scholar interviews
Standardized Test Scores:
Standardized test scores are optional and not required for acceptance to the Golden Apple Scholars Program.
The review committee will closely review the strength of course selection, G.P.A., grade trending, personal statements, and overall involvement for students wishing not to submit test scores.
Students accepted into the Scholars program must submit test scores after induction to assist in research purposes.
Home school students are required to submit test scores for application review.
Application Deadlines:
Priority Deadline: December 1, 2022 (eligible for Early Acceptance Offer)
Final Deadline: April 1, 2023
