Thursday, July 12, 2012

Kristin Lafond and Jacob Goodwin

City Year New Hampshire volunteer Jacob Goodwin stands with Kristin Lafond, an elementary school teacher at the Beech Street Elementary School in Manchester in whose class he worked during his City Year experience. Both are UNH alums.

 

The University of New Hampshire has partnered with City Year New Hampshire, an education-focused nonprofit organization that unites young people for a year of full-time service to help keep students on track to high school graduation, to offer scholarships to City Year New Hampshire alumni interested in obtaining a master’s in education.    

“Many of the qualities that draw people to City Year are the qualities we want to see in our teachers. This partnership supports our broader interests in teacher education to expand the notion of teacher education beyond the schools by preparing our graduates to be community leaders,” said Tom Schram, associate professor of education and director of teacher education at UNH.

Starting in summer 2012, UNH will award $13,500 a year in scholarships, to be divided among up to three City Year New Hampshire corps members who have successfully completed at least one year of service. The scholarship will apply to the City Year member’s first year of enrollment in graduate programs through the UNH Department of Education. New Hampshire City Year scholarship recipients also will receive in-state tuition benefits and are eligible to receive course equivalency for up to three graduate courses, based on demonstrated documentation.

Founded in 1988 City Year is focused on increasing the graduation pipeline in the United States and is committed to leveraging the talent, energy and idealism of corps members to serve as tutors, mentors, and role models in schools to help students stay on track to graduate.

“UNH’s investment in City Year graduates will not only help to provide the formal education and training our alumni need to become outstanding teachers but it also ensures a pipeline of future educators that are committed to making New Hampshire schools and communities the best they can be,” said Ted Wing, recruitment director for City Year New Hampshire.

City Year corps members admitted to the program who choose to serve another year with City Year before starting their study will be eligible for a one-year deferral. Applicants will be considered for additional merit-based awards depending on the strength of the application.

UNH welcomed its first City Year alumni, Jacob Goodwin of Conway, into the new program last month, with an expected master’s program completion date of fall 2013. 

“The professors at UNH know the challenges that face students in New Hampshire better than anyone else. Personally, my goal is to make as much of a positive impact on public education in our state as possible. Having come through the public school system here, and having worked with City Year in Manchester, I know the importance of quality educational opportunities. Simply put, I believe that UNH will best prepare me for helping the learning communities within our state reach their full potential,” said Goodwin, who earned his bachelor’s degree in history at UNH and minored in education.

As a City Year corps member, Goodwin has been working in Manchester’s Beech Street Elementary School under the supervision of teacher Kristen Lafond, who earned her master’s degree in education from UNH in 2003.

“Kristen, who has been teaching at Beech Street Elementary for 10 years, has made changing the life outcomes of some of the most underprivileged students in New Hampshire her life’s work. Seeing a master teacher making such a difference in the community that she grew up in has inspired me. I hope that teaching will allow me to make a similar impact,” Goodwin said.

For more information on applying to the UNH graduate school program, visit http://www.gradschool.unh.edu/apply.html#require. To be considered for a scholarship, City Year New Hampshire corps members and alumni should contact Ted Wing, City Year New Hampshire recruitment director, at twing@cityyear.org, to obtain a letter verifying City Year service.

Originally published by:

UNH Media Relations

Written by Lori Wright, UNH Media Relations