For DonorsFor Applicants

Bob Deats Memorial Scholarship for Education

$5,000
1 winner$5,000
Awarded
Application Deadline
Aug 30, 2024
Winners Announced
Sep 30, 2024
Education Level
High School, Undergraduate
Recent Bold.org scholarship winners
Eligibility Requirements
Education Level:
High school or undergraduate student
Field of Study:
Education
Background:
Volunteering experience

Bob Deats was a beloved father who sadly passed away in April of 2024 after leading an incredible life.

Bob was a gifted shop teacher at Cinnaminson High School in New Jersey from 1969 to 2005. He was passionate about volunteering to help others and was constantly working on a project or three, such as restoring an antique car or piano, building for Habitat for Humanity, or fixing his church’s heating.

Bob used to say that he wanted to give those students who didn’t easily take to classroom learning a reason to come to school so they could learn their academics while they were already there. Countless former students call him their favorite teacher and credit him with shaping the direction of their lives.

This scholarship seeks to honor the life of Bob Deats by supporting students who are pursuing degrees in education.

Any high school or undergraduate student who is pursuing education and has volunteering experience, particularly in a mentoring capacity, may apply for this scholarship opportunity. Applicants who are planning to work with students who struggle academically or in trade vocations and technology education are preferred.

To apply, tell us how you plan to give back, who has been an impactful mentor or teacher for you, and how you plan to inspire the next generation to love learning

Selection Criteria:
Ambition, Drive, Impact
Published May 24, 2024
Essay Topic

How do you give back to your community or others around you? Please share about a mentor or teacher who has impacted you and how you plan to pay it forward through your own teaching and mentoring experiences. How do you plan to impart your own love of learning into the next generation?

400–600 words

Winning Application

Giancarlo Ciotoli
Arcadia UniversityManhasset, NY
Brendan stood in front of six orange cones, a soccer ball at his feet as he urged on, going in and out swiftly without skipping a beat. He looked back at me, proudly, and gave me a thumbs-up when he was done. Although this may seem like an easy task for most people, Brendan is a person with special needs. I couldn’t help but flash back to my younger self while celebrating his accomplishment. I had been in the special education program for as long as I can remember. After having difficulty with speech when I was five, it always occurred as a norm to me. That was until I got into middle school and high school. I was constantly hiding my face from my peers in the hallway when entering my special education classes. These classes always made school a bit more difficult for me. I felt alienated from the rest of the grade. As if I lived a whole separate life inside the same school. After many years of hiding and rushing to classes so that nobody would see me walk into them, It was over. I completed the special education program at Manhasset High School. I felt free from all the stares, free from all the anxiety of being seen walking into a special education classroom, free from being separated from the rest of my grade. Most importantly, I had accomplished my goal of gaining enough tools to no longer need the additional support offered to me by the special education program. This sudden flip of a switch to where I was able to move forward was in my junior year. Junior year, conversations about our future plans and endeavors became a more regular occurrence. It was finally time to seriously think about how I wanted to spend my future. Given my love of working with children, I began to think more seriously about pursuing education as a college major. With this in mind, I began babysitting for several families in the neighborhood, which solidified my passion for teaching. Shortly thereafter, I began helping out at camps over the summer for community service, which led to me having many different opportunities at other camps to help kids with varying needs and abilities. Coming from similar beginnings, giving back by helping those who are struggling in the special education system, will allow me to be the type of teacher who makes a difference. Having a teacher in mind, Mr. Ryan Gray, a special education teacher, would actively take the time to make sure students are engaged and understanding the subject. I consciously took note of how effective of an educator he was to the students around him. Mr. Ryan Gray solidified my desire and purpose to become a teacher. I want to be an advocate and a helping hand to students who struggle. As an educator, I want to make it a mission to grant opportunities to students with special needs, while providing them with an immense amount of accommodation, modifications, and support to secure inclusivity within their education. I am extremely passionate about becoming a special education teacher because it defines who I am. I want to help support students with intellectual disabilities in and outside the classroom to make sure that they can transition into a higher education or any workplace that they desire. After being mentored by brilliant educators who work with students with special needs, pursuing a career as a special education teacher is second nature for me. I want to be like Mr. Ryan Gray, I want to teach students with special needs.

FAQ

When is the scholarship application deadline?

The application deadline is Aug 30, 2024. Winners will be announced on Sep 30, 2024.

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