Hawkins Center For Excellence Program

MSU Denver is one of 12 institutions nationwide to receive funding from the Hawkins grant, which aims to support potential teachers from historically under-served populations by expanding teacher-preparation programs.

MSU Denver will use a portion of the grant to provide 15 scholarships per semester to paraprofessionals working in Denver Public Schools Designated Qualifying Schools where more than 70% of students are eligible for free and reduced lunch and over 80% “minority” population (per Colorado Department of Education).

Scholarships are for potential MSU Denver School of Education students with historically under-served identities (i.e. students who identify as racially/ethnically diverse, LGBTQ, first-generation college students, and/or students with disabilities).

Scholarships amounts are based on a sliding scale (depending on number of credits per semester)​. To qualify for a scholarship, students must declare interest in a School of Education undergraduate major on their MSU Denver application.​

To receive the Bilingual Specialist amount, students must declare interest in a School of Education undergraduate major on their application and enroll in a Bilingual Education Specialist course taught in Spanish.

Scholarship requirements

• Minimum 2.5 grade point average (GPA)​
• Complete the FASFA/CASFA
• Two recommendations (peer and school/district leader)​
• Commitment to preparing for the Praxis exam​
• Participate in a virtual/online interview
• Employed as a paraprofessional at a Qualifying DPS School

Check out the slide deck from our Hawkins Scholarship presentation below for more information.