Fourteen Emporia State graduate students in the adaptive special education program received over $22,000 in scholarships for the 2012-2013 school year. The ESU special education department announced the list of scholarship recipients Dec. 12, 2012.

“The recipients of the adaptive special education scholarship are chosen based on academic merit and professionalism,” said Susan Anderson, assistant professor of adaptive special education.

The recipients of the adaptive special education scholarship this year are Jennifer Bartholomew, Jason Crawford, Martie Helm, Denise Hogan, Jacob Larson, Shannon McDonald, Angela Murray-Brent, Arrah Nielsen-Massimini, Tonya Nyman, Angela Pennock, Cheri Quanstrom, Amber Rea, Julie Reiter and Phyllis Schaeffer.

“Students in the program aim to eventually instruct students with mild to moderate mental and/or physical disabilities,” Anderson said.

The adaptive special education program contains courses that provide students within the program with “descriptions and applications of methods and strategies for teaching students with mild and moderate disabilities in need of an adapted curriculum,” according to ESU’s website. Students participate in a variety of activities to demonstrate the skills to meet the academic and behavioral needs of learners in elementary through secondary levels. Students learn “educational programming techniques, implementation and evaluation of appropriate interventions in a variety of roles.”

“Adaptive special education scholarship applicants are required provide a list of professional activities and memberships they are involved in for the purpose of enriching their teaching career,” said Jerald Liss, assistant professor of special education. “Applicants must have a grade of A or B on all courses in their plan of study.”

Liss said applicants must also provide two professional references and describe their “immediate and long-term professional goals in adaptive special education” in 300 to 500 words.

“The scholarships are funded through generous donations made to the ESU adaptive special education program,” said Matt Seimears, associate chair and associate professor of elementary education, early childhood and special education.

Adaptive special education scholarship applications for the 2013-2014 school year are due in April; the scholarships are allotted for the next school year.