ICTM Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Introduction The Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics (ICTM) awards its Scholarships in Mathematics Education each year in October. ICTM has been offering these scholarships to college students since 1989. A roster of previous recipients is available online. Scholarship awards and benefits Each cycle ICTM may award up to three scholarships, each worth $1,500, to help recipients cover educational costs. In addition to the cash award, winners receive a complimentary one-year ICTM membership, free registration to the annual ICTM conference, and assignment of an ICTM board mentor. If you would like to support future recipients, donations to the scholarship fund are welcomed. Eligibility for the 2025–2026 scholarship To qualify for the 2025–2026 scholarship, applicants must meet all of the following criteria: - Be enrolled as a junior or senior at an accredited college or university in Illinois during Spring 2026, and have a graduation date of May 2026 or later. - Be pursuing their first bachelor’s degree and intend to teach in Illinois after graduation. - Be one of the following: a mathematics education major; a mathematics major with an education minor; an early childhood major; or an elementary education major. - Hold a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) across all colleges attended. - Provide digital copies of required materials via the ICTM Scholarship Submission Portal (see list below). Required application materials (submit digitally) 1. A completed ICTM scholarship application form that contains: - Applicant contact and background information - Two essays, each 200–300 words - A fully completed lesson planning form 2. Official transcripts from all colleges attended. 3. Two letters of recommendation from mathematics or mathematics-methods instructors (high school or college). Each letter must describe the writer’s relationship to the applicant and comment on the applicant’s potential as a mathematics teacher. 4. Documentation verifying enrollment in a teacher education program (for example: a letter from an advisor, registration materials, or a notation on a transcript). Evaluation and scoring A review committee will score applications using the following rubric: - Application information: 5 points (completeness, GPA, clarity) - Activities: 10 points (relevance of work, leadership, and extracurricular involvement to mathematics and/or teaching) - Essay #1: 10 points (quality of writing, demonstrated contribution to math teaching, enthusiasm for teaching and mathematics) - Essay #2: 10 points (writing quality, how well the prompt is addressed, and the strength of the response) - Lesson planning form: 15 points (clarity and suitability of objectives/goals, opportunities for student engagement, assessment of understanding, and clear lesson flow including introduction and closure) How to apply and contact information You may download the fillable PDF application for 2025–2026 from ICTM’s website. After assembling all required documents listed above, upload them through the ICTM Scholarship Submission Portal. Direct questions about the application process to scholarships@ictm.org.