CFWV

Underwood-Smith Teacher Scholarship Program is a student financial aid program designed to enable and encourage students to pursue teaching careers at the pre-school, elementary, middle or secondary school level.

Undergraduate and graduate scholarships, not to exceed $5,000 per academic year, are awarded on the basis of academic qualifications and interest in teaching. The purpose of the program is to assist West Virginians interested in obtaining a teaching certificate and committed to the pursuit of a teaching career in West Virginia's public schools.

Award Criteria

Recipients of the Underwood-Smith Teacher Scholarship must agree to teach at the public pre-school, elementary, middle or secondary school level in West Virginia for two years for each year of scholarship assistance. However, if a scholar enters a teacher shortage area, an exceptional children's program, a school having less than average academic results or a school in an economically disadvantaged area as designated by the West Virginia Board of Education, then the scholar must teach one year for each year for which the scholarship was received.

There are also limited provisions for meeting the teaching requirement through alternative service. Students who fail to meet the teaching or alternative service requirements are required to repay the scholarship received plus interest and any required collection fees.