FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 27, 2000 CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119 Drake University offers new scholarships for future teachers Drake University has created a new scholarship designed to help attract the best and brightest students to the teaching profession in an effort to address Iowa's projected teacher shortage. The new Drake Teacher Education Scholarship provides $2,000 to each entering first-year student and transfer student in the School of Education, beginning with the fall 2000 semester. The scholarship can be renewed for up to four years of study at Drake as long as the student meets academic standards within the School of Education. "This scholarship demonstrates Drake's commitment to teacher education," said Jamie Ferrare, dean of the School of Education. "We believe it will encourage more of our top students to come into teaching. Plus, it will help address the serious teacher shortage that's projected to occur in Iowa because one-third of the state's teachers are eligible for retirement within three years." Drake also has allocated $40,000 in scholarship funds to assist current undergraduate and graduate students in the School of Education. Support for this program comes from alumni contributions and bequests. Drake's School of Education has approximately 200 undergraduate students and 600 graduate students. It offers degree programs in early childhood, elementary and secondary education, effective teaching, special education, school administration, school counseling and vocational rehabilitation.