Teacher and elementary student having a discussion.
Educational Pathways Scholarship
Student Scholarship for Future Educators and Related Service Providers
The New Hanover County Board of Education believes that the future of quality education in New Hanover County lies in the hands of the future educators and related service providers of our students.
The Board of Education Student Scholarships for Future Educators will award scholarship loans of $3,500 per semester,
each year to an accredited North Carolina community college, college or university of the recipient’s choice,
for a total amount up to $28,000 per scholarship.
Application Deadline: March 27, 2026
Application Window: February 9 - March 27, 2026
Educational Pathways:
-
General Education Teacher
-
Exceptional Children (EC) Teacher
-
Related Service Positions:
- Occupational Therapist
- Physical Therapist
- Psychologist
- Speech Language Pathologist
- Educational Interpreter
Application Requirements
- Applicants must be seniors in a New Hanover County public (non-charter) high school.
- Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of high school grades, class standing, a 250-word minimum essay, community service, extracurricular activities, and references from teachers, administrators, and members of the community.
- Applicants must submit at least three reference letters, including one from a teacher, one from a community member, and one from an administrator that highlights the applicant’s teaching abilities. Please do not include references from relatives.
- Applicants must be accepted into, enrolled in, or enrolling as a full-time student in an accredited North Carolina community college, college, or university of their choice.
- Scholarship recipients must achieve a minimum 2.5 grade point average each year and remain students in good standing according to the requirements and standards imposed by the college or university.
- Scholarship recipients must obtain a North Carolina professional license within four years of receiving the initial scholarship.
- Recipients must work full-time in New Hanover County Schools within seven years of receiving a teaching license and teach for at least four years.
Failure to comply with these conditions shall require repayment of all scholarship funds awarded unless otherwise granted by the Board.
Scholarship Award Process
Recipients are selected through a rigorous selection process. Selection is made on the basis of grades, class standing, personal essay, community service, extracurricular activities and references from teachers, administrators and members of the community.
- A rubric will be used to rank candidates.
- The NHC Board of Education will use the results of the ranking to select candidates to interview or they may choose to interview all of the candidates.
A formal letter will be sent inviting the selected recipients to a signing ceremony to accept the scholarship during the May Regular Meeting of the Board.
Faith Seamon - Wrightsboro Elementary
Application Process:
The Board of Education Student Scholarships for future teachers application process is comprised of five separate parts.
Applicants are required to read and understand Board Policy 3445 before applying.
Step 1: Application Release Form
The Application Release Form must be signed by the applicant and the applicant’s parent if the applicant is a minor. The signed form will need to be submitted along with the reference letters by March 27, 2026.
Step 2: Online Application
The online application must be completed in one session. Partial applications will not be considered.
The student must use their NHCS email address to access the application.
It is recommended that applicants type their essay responses in a Word document and transfer their responses to the online application.
Step 3: Submission Instructions
Completed applications, including three reference letters and a signed Application Release Form, must be received by the Board administrator no later than noon on March 27, 2026. Online applications will not be considered for the scholarships until all three parts have been received by the Board administrator.
Questions?
Please call or email
Brittany Pritchett at (910) 254-4200
brittany.pritchett@nhcs.net