Cal Poly Receives $423,000 for Scholarships

SAN LUIS OBISPO - A new Cal Poly scholarship program for prospective math teachers offers funding for stellar students – as well as local professionals looking for a meaningful mid-career change.

The National Science Foundation recently awarded Cal Poly $423,000 for 24 one- and two-year scholarships over the next four years.

The Robert Noyce Scholarship program is designed to support top students in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as to attract mid-career professionals or students in another area of study with an interest in pursuing a math or science teaching credential.

At Cal Poly, 12 two-year scholarships will be awarded to math majors to help fund their final year of undergraduate studies and their one-year credential; 12 one-year scholarships target career-changers and non-math students.

The Cal Poly Noyce scholarship program is administered by Todd A. Grundmeier and Elsa Medina, both mathematics professors at the university.

“A one-year $10,000 scholarship covers about two thirds of the cost of the credential program at Cal Poly,” said Grundmeier. “We will offer three scholarships to career changers each year for the next four years.”

The goal of the Noyce Scholarships is to increase the number of teachers with strong science, technology and math knowledge in high-need school districts, he said. And that means the program has the potential to keep Cal Poly graduates in the local school districts as teachers.

“Local school districts like Santa Maria meet the criteria of high need, so it is possible our Noyce scholars will secure jobs there as openings occur.”

Cal Poly is one of four California State University campuses to receive Noyce Scholarship grants to help support students and professionals committed to teaching math and science in high-need K-12 schools. The awards, between $400,000 and $500,000 to each campus, represent nearly 20 percent of the funds awarded in 2006 by the National Science Foundation for the scholarship program.

For more information, call 805-756-1658 or visit www.calpoly.edu/~math/noyce/frontpage.htm

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