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Scholarships, Awards, Contests & Grants
2025-26 Scholarships, Awards, Contests & Grants
There are many benefits of being a KEA member, including eligibility for scholarships, awards, contests, and grants sponsored by KEA, NEA, and their partners. If you are a KEA member, some opportunities are also available for your family. Read on to see how KEA can help you grow in your profession and support you in your classroom or work site.
The awards, scholarships, contests, and grants listed below are open and are accepting applications.
Scholarships
2026-2027 KEA Ethnic Minority Scholarship:
The KEA Ethnic Minority Scholarships are progressive scholarships awarded each fall to two (2) Freshman ethnic-minority college students who are seeking a degree in Education at an accredited Kentucky college or university. Applications must be submitted through this online form. The deadline for all applications is Thursday, October 15, 2026.
KEA believes it is important that we have a highly qualified and diverse public school faculty and staff that is reflective of the population of our state, our students, and our public schools. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, educators of color comprise only 5% of the Kentucky teaching population, while the state as a whole has a 13.7% ethnic minority population. Consequently, many of our students of color may never see a role model at the front of the classroom who looks like them. KEA hopes to help change that by offering these scholarships.
The total award for an individual successful applicant is $5,000 dispersed over 4 years. (Year 1 – $500; Year 2 – $1,000; Year 3- $1,500; Year 4- $2,000).
The recipient must be an ethnic minority enrolled full-time in an educator preparation program in Kentucky. Recipients of these scholarships will be asked to submit a copy of their schedule each semester as proof of enrollment in the educator preparation course of study. In addition to providing financial support through the scholarship, the KEA Ethnic Minority Directors will mentor and support the recipients throughout their educational career.
Before you begin: Applicants will be asked to answer all of the following questions:
- Why did you choose to major in education?
- What is a barrier/challenge that you have overcome in your education?
- If awarded this scholarship, I will be able to…..
Applicants will also be asked to upload a picture of themselves.
Grants
KEA Read Across America Grant:
Each year, KEA budgets funds to support Read Across America events sponsored by KEA districts and KEA locals. Although March 2 of each year is traditionally designated as “Read Across America Day,” events can occur on any date.
The primary purpose of the Read Across America program is to promote literacy, and applications will be judged on the extent to which they accomplish that primary goal. In addition, KEA will judge grant requests based on the following criteria: the degree to which the activity encourages participation by multiple categories (Active, Aspiring Educator, and Retired) of KEA membership; the number of children and students that are expected to participate; the expected level of publicity and community outreach; the extent to which the event helps develop strong KEA locals; and other relevant criteria that may be established and considered by the grant committee.
All grant applications must be received by KEA on or before 11:59 PM eastern on September 15th, 2026.
You can apply for the KEA Read Across America Grant by clicking here.