Awards

MATELA Scholarships and Awards
(NCTE Awards are below.)

1. Montana Writing Project
Applications are available from:

Montana Writing Project
Department of English
University of Montana
Missoula, MT 59812

Applicants must be MATELA members, must have their administrator verify that the district will not sponsor the applicant, must apply to the Montana Writing Project. An application form, letter of application, and acceptance of responsibilities are required.

Complete and send the MATELA Montana Writing Project form (PDF)
to the MATELA President or Vice-President.

2. Professional Development Scholarship
Applicants must have been active MATELA members for at least one year, must have their administrators recommend professional leave, and must submit letters of application. Scholarships are for attendance to conferences such as the NCTE Annual Conventions or a NCTE-Northwest Regional Conference. Recipients of this scholarship may have some responsibilities at the conference and are expected to write an article for the UPDATE or MEJ about their experiences and propose a workshop session.

Complete and send the MATELA Professional Development Scholarship form (PDF)
to the MATELA President or Vice-President.

3. Minority Scholarship
Applicants must be Native American seniors majoring in English or elementary education and must provide their graduation date, transcript, and a letter of recommendation from a professor.

Complete and send the MATELA Native American Scholarship form (PDF)
dotsusag@3rivers.netto the MATELA President or Vice-President.

4. MATELA Local Membership Function Grants.
Awarded in Amounts of up to $500 Each as Needed.
These grants are offered to help offset the expenses associated with facilitating a focused discussion group or specialized workshop for English language arts teachers in a local area. The grant recipient may use funds to pay a guest speaker, rent a meeting room, and/or purchase food/refreshments. The grant recipient may invite all English language arts teachers in his/her region to promote MATELA membership and to provide MATELA services to members in the area for a one-time meeting or series of meetings. Application, letter, and follow-up article required.

Complete and send the MATELA Local Membership Function Grant form (PDF)
to the MATELA President or Vice-President.

5. MATELA Distinguished Educator Award
This is an opportunity to recognize the contributions of a deserving colleague.
Criteria includes instructional competency, involvement in school and community, and leadership roles. See the Distinguished Educator Nomination form for more information concerning criteria.

Complete Distinguished Educator Nominations form (PDF link) and send to:
Donna Miller
Box 1405
Chinook, Montana 59523

NCTE Sponsored Awards for Students:

NCTE Achievement Awards in Writing. This program honors high school students for their superior writing. Students write during their junior year and receive recognition during their senior year. Writing excellence is based on students' samples of their best prose or verse and on impromptu themes that are written under supervision. This year marks the 47th Annual Achievement Awards in Writing. Since 2000, more than 1,900 students have won the Achievement Award.
For more information e-mail: NCTE Achievement Awards in Writing,
Submissions due: Jan. 28, 2005. Results announced: October.

To nominate a student to write for this prestigious award, contact :
Dorothea Susag, Achievement Awards Coordinator.
561 4th Lane
Fairfield, Montana 59436


NCTE's Program to Recognize Excellence in Student Literary Magazines (PRESLM) honors exceptional student literary magazines from senior high, junior high, and middle schools in the United States, Canada, and from American schools abroad. The student magazines are evaluated with primary emphasis on literary aspects, although production values and the extent of student participation in production are also factors.
More PRESLM Information is available through NCTE, or PRESLM e:mail Submissions due: July 1, 2005. Results announced: February.
To submit a student literary magazine for this award, contact:
Anna Baldwin, PRESLM Coordinator
PO Box 394
Arlee, Montana 59821

NCTE's Promising Young Writers Program (PYW) honors excellent eighth-grade writers. Students submit a sample of their best work, as well as write an impromptu essay. This program recognizes the achievement of individual students, as well as the school and the school's teachers, programs, and instruction. Since 2000, nearly 2,000 students have participated in this program, with over 800 winning the honor.
More PWY Information is available through NCTE, or PYW e:mail Submissions due: Jan. 14, 2005. Results announced: May.

NCTE Sponsored Awards for Teachers:

NCTE High School Teacher of Excellence. Annually, each affiliate will determine one person in that affiliate to receive this award from the Secondary Section. The purpose of the award is to recognize and celebrate high school classroom teachers. More NCTE High School Teacher of Excellence information is available through NCTE. Documentation, including resume, letters, and the form from the website, must be sent by May 1 of each year to the designated address on the form.

NCTE Leadership Development Award.
Annually, an affiliate may nominate an early career teacher (1-5 years experience) who has never attended an NCTE Annual Convention and who has demonstrated a capacity for professional leadership as well as a willingness to join and participate in the affiliate during the upcoming academic year. The award of $500 will help defray costs of attending the NCTE Annual Convention in the year it is given. The HYPERLINK "" \o "about:blank" NCTE Leadership Development Award Submission Forms are found on the NCTE website at:NCTE Leadership Development Award Submission
The forms must be submitted to the
Division Director of Communications & Affiliate Services, NCTE,
1111 W. Kenyon Rd., Urbana, IL 61801;
fax: 217-278-3760,
no later than May 1 of the year of the award.

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