The Indiana Commission for Higher Education has awarded 200 scholarships to the sixth class of Next Generation Hoosier Educators.

Selected through a competitive process based on academic achievement and additional factors, recipients will receive $7,500 annually (up to $30,000 total) for committing to teach in Indiana for at least five years after graduating college.

Jackson County students receiving the scholarship are Alisha Busby and Will Reinhart of Seymour High School and Grant Elliott and Macey Stuckwisch of Brownstown Central High School. Their college choices are Indiana University Southeast for Busby, Oakland City University for Reinhart, Hanover College for Elliott and Ivy Tech Community College for Stuckwisch.

A total of 627 students applied for the 2022-23 Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship, a 43% increase in submitted applications compared to last year.

Applications were received from learners representing 270 high schools in 86 of Indiana’s 92 counties. Additionally, 75% of applicants were Indiana high school seniors with the remainder comprised of current college students.

To qualify for the scholarship, students had to either graduate in the top 20% of their high school class, earn a score in the 20th percentile on the SAT or ACT or have at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA.

“Recipients of the Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship will bring dedication, creativity and passion to classrooms across the state,” Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Chris Lowery said in a news release. “Teachers play an important and vital role in preparing students for academic and life success. It’s encouraging to see so many students committed to teaching in Indiana as the number of applicants increases each year.”

To continue earning the scholarship in college, students must earn a 3.0 cumulative GPA and complete at least 30 credit hours per year.

For information about the scholarship and to see a full list of recipients, visit learnmoreindiana.org/nextteacher.