The new Park Family Teaching Fellows Scholarship helps prepare future generations of teachers who will impact schools and students for years to come.
A generous gift from an Elon family will endow a new Teaching Fellows Scholarship for students in Elon’s School of Education.
The gift from Rob and Martha Park P’20, of Fort Worth, Texas, and Judy and Major Park GP’20, of Mission Woods, Kansas, to endow the Park Family Teaching Fellows Scholarship will help recruit outstanding students to the university’s School of Education.
Increasing scholarship support for the university’s six Fellows programs is one of the top priorities of the $250 million Elon LEADS Campaign.
Ann Bullock, dean of the School of Education, thanked the Parks for their generosity and said she’s excited about having more Teaching Fellows scholarships to offer deserving students. Demand for these merit-based scholarships is high and competitive, and they play a critical role in recruiting students to the School of Education.
“I appreciate the commitment by the Park family to education,” Bullock said. “I appreciate that they recognize this can help prepare teachers for our schools and our children.”
Teaching Fellows is a highly selective, comprehensive, four-year program that serves as a national model for the preparation of leading teachers and scholars. It is a value-added experience offering academic rigor, meaningful experiences, faculty mentoring, and peer networks that challenge students to set and achieve ambitious goals. Students in Elon’s Fellows programs typically have the highest academic profiles of each entering class and set the pace for the academic climate on campus.
Experiences offered through the Teaching Fellows program help prepare passionate teachers with an expanded view of the world, a commitment to understanding diverse cultures and an ability to collaborate toward improving educational opportunities in their communities and beyond, Bullock said.
“It really provides an opportunity for a student to receive an excellent education that is built upon the liberal arts and provides opportunities above and beyond what we already offer in our outstanding education program,” Bullock said.
Jim Piatt, vice president for university advancement, praised the Park family for their commitment to enriching the studies and lives of students in the School of Education.
“The dedication of Elon families to the university and its students is humbling,” Piatt said. “We thank the Park family for continuing and growing a legacy of Elon producing outstanding teachers.”
Opportunities available to Teaching Fellows include a Winter Term American History Study Tour of Revolutionary War sites along the Eastern Seaboard; a Winter Term seminar in Washington, D.C.; research with a faculty mentor; study abroad experience in New Zealand, and enrichment programs, including seminars and volunteer tutoring.
The programming in Teaching Fellows makes a difference for Elon students and the future students they will impact as educators, Bullock said.
“Every child deserves a great teacher, and Elon produces wonderful teachers,” Bullock said. “We prepare an equity-minded teacher to meet the needs of all students.”
The Parks’ daughter Katie is a senior at Elon studying in the School of Education. The Parks have previously supported Elon’s Greatest Needs and the Parents and Grandparents Fund.
About The Elon LEADS Campaign
Increasing funding for scholarships and building upon our iconic campus are among the main funding priorities of the Elon LEADS Campaign. With a $250 million goal, Elon LEADS is the largest fundraising campaign in the university’s history and will support four main funding priorities: scholarships for graduates the world needs, access to engaged-learning opportunities such as study abroad, support for faculty and staff mentors who matter and Elon’s iconic campus. To date, donors have contributed $177 million toward the overall goal.
Every gift to the university—including annual, endowment, capital, and estate and other planned gifts—counts as a gift to the campaign, which will support students and strengthen Elon for generations to come. To learn more about how you can make an impact, visit www.elonleads.com.