Richard A. Meade Student Teaching Scholarship

Dr. Richard A. Meade was presented VATE's first Distinguished Service Award in 1980. He was Professor Emeritus of English Education at the University of Virginia, and furthered the profession by his influence on individual English educators, such as Robert Small, Alan McLeod, and Guy Ellis, and by his dedicated service to both VATE and VCTE. He was one of the founders of NCTE's Conference on English Education, a leader in NCTE's ALAN and Middle School Assembly. His voice on censorship, textbook selections, certification standards, and curriculum has been instrumental in shaping today's English education in Virginia.

The Richard A. Meade Student Teaching Scholarship has been established by VATE to honor the late Dr. Meade, a professor of English education at the University of Virginia from 1934-82. The scholarship, which rewards the efforts of highly capable students entering teaching, represents VATE's commitment to improving English Language Arts instruction in Virginia schools.

• (Revised 12-14-02) SELECTION COMMITTEE: The selection committee will consist of the chair (which alternates between the high school, the middle school, and the elementary members-at-large), and the other members-at-large.
• (2-24-84) An annual scholarship of $500 will be awarded to a student who will be doing student teaching in English while attending a Virginia college or university.
• (6-5-04) The amount of the scholarship will be $1000 beginning in 2005.
• (6-5-04) The applicant must be pursuing a degree program that includes professional certification from a Virginia approved program in teaching English and be scheduled to student-teach during the designated year.
• The applicant must have a minimum 3.2 GPA (on a 4 point scale). An official
  transcript of all college work must be submitted with the application.
• The applicant will indicate interest in and need for the scholarship through a writing sample of not more than 200 words.
• Three letters of recommendation complete the application process: one from an English department faculty member, one from an education faculty member (a methods instructor, if available), and one from outside the college or university, e.g., a former employer, an English teacher who previously taught the student below the college level.
• The scholarship recipient will be invited to attend the VATE Fall Conference during
  the scholarship's designated year; Conference fees will be waived for the recipient(s). Lodging and travel will be supported by VATE.
• (8-7-04) The scholarship recipient will be invited to attend and present at the Fall Conference the following year. Conference registration fee, luncheon fee, and membership dues will paid for the recipient.
• (2-24-84) More than one scholarship may be awarded with the approval of the Board.
• (2-11-89) The date for mailing the informational letter to Virginia colleges shall be April 1 of each year. June 30 shall be the deadline for receiving the application and supporting materials from the applicant.
• The VCEE chair will send out the informational letter to Virginia colleges. The information about the award also will be in the spring issue of THE NEEDLE’S EYE.
• The committee will review applicants and select the winner on the basis of need, quality of recommendations, and the written proficiency of the candidates.
• Names of recipient(s) will be presented to the Executive Board for approval. The president will notify the recipient(s) after the August Board meeting.
• Recipients will be recognized during the VATE Fall Conference.
• (12-14-02) Chair of the selection committee shall be the Elementary Member-at-Large in 2006, the Secondary Member-at-Large in 2007, and the Middle School Member-at-Large in 2008, continuing to rotate the chair in that order. If a chair position is not filled when the committee meets, the chair will go to the next person in order.

Call for Nominations for the 2008 Richard A. Meade Student Teaching Scholarship: July 11, 2008