Scholarships & Awards

Alice Stielow Wehrung Schmidt '41 Endowed Scholarship in Elementary Education

Ms. Schmidt, a graduate of Buffalo State, had a distinguished career in education. This scholarship is for an undergraduate or MIITC student who majors in elementary education, shows financial need, and has a minimum GPA of 3.0. The scholarship is intended to help with expenses while student teaching, therefore application should occur the semester before student teaching or early in the student teaching semester.

Application Process: CAPS

Capella Bard School of Education Scholarship in Applied Literacy

The Capella Bard award is to support students with a declared major that includes the promotion of applied literacy, including students with a declared major in Elementary Education, Literacy, and Educational Leadership (undergraduate, graduate, or certificate of advanced studies), the Exceptional Education department, working toward a master's degree in education in the Speech Language-Pathology department, or a declared major in English Education.

Application Process: CAPS

Circle of Excellence Award

The Circle of Excellence award is for childhood, early childhood and combined majors who are in their last semester and have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better. Candidates should apply in their last semester and must be student teaching at the time of application. Application deadlines are February 28 and October 25.

Gloria Shea Scholarship

Ms. Gloria Shea taught for the West Seneca School District for almost 30 years. She had a passion for her work as a teacher. To honor her legacy, her son, Pat Shea, a local singer and song writer from West Seneca, has created a scholarship in her memory. This scholarships if for students who major in education, are junior or senior status, have a 2.5 or higher cumulative GPA, demonstrate financial need. Candidates must submit an essay describing why they want to become an elementary school teacher, what financial obstacles they have had to overcome, and how this scholarship will help them achieve their dreams.

Application Process: CAPS

Joseph S. Sperrazza Endowed Scholarship

The Joseph S. Sperrazza Endowed Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate students working toward a degree in elementary or secondary education at Buffalo State who demonstrate a strong commitment to community and/or public service such as AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, or volunteering at a human service agency (City Mission, Cornerstone Manor, Red Cross, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, etc.).

Application Process: CAPS

Lenore Levy Exemplary Performance in an Urban/High Needs School

The Lenore Levy award is given to a student teacher who shows the special skills and disposition needed to be a successful teacher in an Urban or High Need School. Candidates should apply during the semester in which they are student teaching. This award is given in the fall. Application deadline is November 1.

Download Application: Lenore Levy

Leslie Day PDS Leadership Award

The Leslie Day PDS Leadership Award recognizes the contribution of a PDS Student Representative to the consortium and teacher education at Buffalo State. Recipients are selected based on their ability to articulate the PDS mission while demonstrating the ability to represent the needs and concerns of their fellow teacher candidates. Applicants must have served as role models and mentors in addition to designing, conducting, and presenting research at local and national PDS conferences. This award is given to one PDS Student Representative annually.

Download Application: Leslie Day

Lois W. Pearson ’51, 55 and Marion H. Benz ’66 Scholarship

The Lois W. Pearson ’51, 55 and Marion H. Benz ’66 scholarship is available to incoming freshman students majoring in elementary education. Candidates must declare and maintain majors in elementary education, maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, demonstrate financial need by filing the current FAFSA form, and demonstrate care and compassion for family or friends that promotes the respect and worth of humanity. The scholarship is renewable for up to four additional years provided recipients meet the stated criteria. The amount at which the scholarship renews may vary year to year based on funding available.

Application Process: CAPS

Norma Munger Sutter Award

The Norma Munger Sutter Award is given to a teacher candidate who has shown exceptional talent in student teaching. Throughout her 36 years in education, Mrs. Sutter found that successful delivery of education to young children is a unique talent. She wanted to recognize teacher candidates with this unique talent. This award has both a spring and a fall recipient. Candidates should apply during the semester in which they are student teaching. Application deadlines are November 1 and April 1.

Download Application: Norma Munger Sutter

Robert and Gloria Laskie Scholarship

The Robert and Gloria Laskie Scholarship is for elementary education majors who have completed at least one year at Buffalo State and contributed to campus life through the participation in student activities. Applicants must submit a brief essay describing contributions.

Application Process: CAPS

Shirley Spriegel Award

Ms. Shirley Spreigel was a long time supervisor of student teachers at Buffalo State. This award is given to a masters level MIITC student who is earning initial certification in elementary education. Applicants must have a letter of endorsement from a Student Teaching Supervisor and should apply during the semester in which they are student teaching. Fall awards have a deadline of November 1. Spring awards have a deadline of April 1.

Download Application: Shirley Spriegel