URGENT UPDATE: Indiana is taking immediate action to support future educators with the launch of the Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship. This initiative is now accepting applications, offering high school seniors and college students a chance to secure $10,000 per year for up to four years as they pursue teaching degrees.
Indiana State Representatives Jack Jordan (R-Bremen) and Jake Teshka (R-North Liberty) made the announcement today, emphasizing the importance of retaining homegrown talent within Indiana’s education system. “We want the very best teachers growing the minds of young Hoosiers,” Jordan stated, highlighting the state’s commitment to its educational future.
The scholarship is specifically aimed at high-achieving students, those ranking in the top 20% of their class or possessing exceptional standardized test scores. Interested applicants for the 2026-2027 academic year must apply by the January 31 deadline through the Indiana Commission for Higher Education’s website.
This scholarship initiative, which began in 2016, recently received a significant boost in 2023, increasing the funding from $7,500 to $10,000 and eliminating the previous cap on the number of recipients, which was set at 200 per year. The changes were part of new legislation co-authored by Jordan, reflecting a response to the competitive nature of these scholarships. Last year alone, over 1,000 students applied, with nearly 300 receiving awards.
Teshka, a member of the House Education Committee, stressed the positive impact of the scholarship on Indiana’s teaching profession. “This scholarship helps identify and award some of our brightest and most talented students, encouraging them to invest their talents in Indiana and in educating the next generation,” he emphasized.
The urgency of this initiative cannot be overstated, as Indiana seeks to bolster its educational workforce by attracting and retaining exceptional individuals. With the application deadline quickly approaching, students are urged to act fast to take advantage of this life-changing opportunity.
As the state continues to invest in education, all eyes will be on the upcoming application results, which promise to shape the future of teaching in Indiana. Now is the time for aspiring educators to step forward and seize this chance to make a lasting impact in their communities.
