RAPIL Scholarship
The RAPIL scholarship is available for STEM professionals seeking support to career-transition to teaching.
Purpose
Iowa school administrators lament a shortage of teaching applicants in high-need areas including science, mathematics and technology. Industry leaders lament the lack of access to K-12 for retirees or career changers to teaching. The Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council offers scholarships to STEM professionals intending to become classroom teachers through the Regents Alternative Pathway to Intern Licensure (RAPIL).
Timeline
Scholarships applications are required for each semester of support sought. Scholarships are awarded at the start of each semester for up to four (4) semesters.
Eligible Applicants
Enrollees in the RAPIL program pursuing a STEM license/endorsement are eligible for a $4,000 scholarship each semester of successful progress toward completion the first year, then a $1,800 scholarship each semester of successful progress toward completion the intern year. This brief application is due at the start of each semester of desired support. Eligible license/endorsement areas are:
- Agriculture
- Computer Science and Technology
- Engineering
- Family Consumer Science
- Health
- Industrial Technology
- Mathematics
- Science (biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, general science, physical science)
- STEM
Commitment
The Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council aims for this scholarship to support candidates intending to teach in Iowa upon completion. By accepting this scholarship, the applicant attests to the intention to teach in Iowa. The applicant must also agree to comply with follow-up requests for information regarding field(s) of licensure and school/teaching assignment annually, as well as other survey/interview requests that may arise and the STEM Council’s use of that information in public reports and media. For renewed scholarships, the applicant must demonstrate satisfactory progress toward completion.
Application
Qualified enrollees in the RAPIL Program pursuing STEM license/endorsement will be notified of the fall and spring semester scholarship application period by the RAPIL Program Coordinator.
Testimonials
"The RAPIL program has blessed me with a purpose that I have been lacking ever since I finished my service commitment to my country in the Air Force. I am eager to learn all I can from my extremely knowledgeable professors, and that means limiting distractions. The Iowa STEM RAPIL Scholarship has lifted a large personal distraction which included, "how am I going to afford this?". This scholarship allows me to be mentally present in all of my teacher interactions to ensure I become the best possible educator for our youth today and tomorrow." - Derek Dusenbery, 2022 RAPIL Scholarship Recipient
"Last year I was working full time as an associate in our school, as well as attending RAPIL, and family at home. I was very overwhelmed. I needed to work full time to pay for my tuition. After the scholarship, I was able to start substitute teaching, because it lifted some of the financial burden as well as the mental stresses of feeling overwhelmed with all my commitments. This year I am teaching 9-12 Family Consumer Science and loving every minute of it! With receiving the scholarship again I am able to not think about that part of finishing the RAPIL program and I can focus on the students that just walked into my classroom to learn about Fashion. So thank you!" - Rebecca Lambert, 2022 RAPIL Scholarship Recipient
Inquiries may be directed to the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council operations center at Info@IowaSTEM.org.