Riley Scholars

At Walden University’s Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership, we know that teachers have a tremendous impact on the lives of students and families. Providing deserving teachers with advanced education empowers them to effect positive change and to make their communities stronger. 

Walden believes in financial accessibility for all who are eligible to pursue a degree. Therefore, to support highly deserving teachers and help them earn their M.S. in Education degree, Walden’s Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership will award up to 100 full tuition scholarships. Those selected will be known as Riley Scholars, in honor of Richard W. Riley, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education during the Clinton administration, and a champion for making higher education accessible to those in need. The announcement of the scholarship commitment by Walden was made at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Asia meeting in Hong Kong as part of a global commitment by the Laureate International Universities network.

Scholarship Eligibility
Recipients of this scholarship award must

1. Not be already enrolled in Walden University
2. Be fully admitted to Walden’s Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership M.S. in Education program, with the university in receipt of all the applicant’s official documentation
3. Must be reserved for the applicable start date noted below
4. Not have received another merit-based Walden scholarship

Degree program included in this scholarship award
The scholarship award includes the following degree program:

• M.S. in Education

Scholarship Criteria
Applicants must

• Be a current teacher, with 2 years of teaching experience or a teaching certificate
• Submit an essay describing why they want to pursue an advanced degree and what personal hardships may be prohibiting them from doing so (no more than 1 page in length), via the nomination form.
• Include a letter of recommendation from a school official (on school letterhead) describing how their passion for teaching makes an impact on their students, school, or community

Scholarship Application Process
Applicant must

• Complete the nomination form (doc)
• Email the nomination form, essay, and letter of recommendation in one email to Rileyscholarship@waldenu.edu by:
  • May 1, 2009, for the June, 2009, start date
  • July 10, 2009, for the September, 2009, start date
  • September 4, 2009, for the November, 2009, start date

All required materials must be submitted in order for your nomination to be considered. Failure to exactly follow the instructions above may result in the disqualification of an applicant's nomination. Applicants may be contacted by phone to confirm authenticity of information submitted.

Scholarship Selection Process
Recipients of the award will be selected by a scholarship committee made up of members of the Riley College of Education and Leadership, who will review the nominations and select the scholarship recipients. The eligibility of each applicant may be verified by phone before applications are presented to the selection committee. Any applicant who does not meet eligibility requirements will not be considered. Scholarship awards will be determined on the strength of the information provided.

Scholarship Announcements and Publicity
Individuals who receive a Riley Scholar scholarship must affirm that they are willing and able to participate in all publicity efforts promoting the program. Such publicity may include news releases and media advisories, local and national media coverage, media interviews and photos, and other similar public relations activities. Individuals who participate must sign a release that allows Walden University to use the individual’s participation in the program for publicity purposes without limitation and states that all such materials remain the sole and exclusive property of Walden University.

Scholarship Funding
The university must be in receipt of all of the applicant’s official admissions documentation for scholarship funds to be applied to the student’s account. Students who withdraw from the university will forfeit the scholarship. Students who take a leave of absence and re-enter the same program will retain the scholarship award. Students who take a leave of absence and choose to enter a different program will forfeit the scholarship award.

The cost of books and course materials are included in the tuition for many of Walden’s programs and specializations. However, scholarship recipients enrolling in Walden’s Ph.D. in Education program, Ed.S. in Educational Technology, the M.S. in Education program with a specialization in Middle Level Education (Grades 5–8), or any of our B.S. programs are responsible for the cost of books and materials. Scholarship recipients enrolling in either the Ph.D. in Education program or the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) program are also responsible for all associated residency costs. All recipients who enroll in a Walden program are responsible for the technology fee each term as well. Recipients are responsible for all other non-tuition costs including but not limited to, residency travel and other university or program fees as applicable.

In order for scholarship funding to continue throughout the length of the program, recipients must meet the satisfactory academic progress criteria set forth by Walden University’s current catalog for the duration of their program.

If a student is in a new semester and forfeited in the previous semester (due to internal lag time), the student will receive a revised bill for the prior semester in which they received the scholarship.

*This scholarship is not managed by Walden University’s Office of Financial Aid. Please call an enrollment advisor at 1-866-492-5336 for more information.