Members

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.  

The scholarships, awards, and contests listed below are open and are accepting submissions.

Scholarships

Ethnic-Minority Scholarship – These progressive scholarships are 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. The deadline for all applications is Tuesday, October 15, 2024.

KEA’s Ethnic-Minority Scholarship is a progressive program that is awarded each fall to 2 (two) freshman college students who are seeking a degree in Education from an accredited Kentucky college or university. The total award is $5000 dispersed over 4 years. (Disbursement schedule: Year 1 – $500; Year 2 – $1000; Year 3 – $1500; Year 4 – $2000)

The recipient must be an ethnic minority enrolled full-time in an educator preparation program in Kentucky. If successful, the recipient will be asked to submit a copy of their schedule (each semester) as proof of enrollment in the educator preparation course of study. Deadline for applications is October 15, 2024. 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 the following questions:

• Why have you chosen 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.

Apply for the scholarship using this link.

Grants

Read Across America Project Grants –  NEA created Read Across America in 1997 as a day to “get kids excited about reading”.  Planning and sponsoring a Read Across America event offers a wonderful opportunity to involve all stakeholders–teachers, students, parents, and community—in the vital work of promoting literacy.

Each year, KEA awards competitive grants of up to $500 each to locals and governance districts to support Read Across America events. Each KEA governance district or KEA local can receive only one grant per year.  Applications are reviewed by the KEA MOVE (Membership, Organizing, Visibility, Engagement) Committee;
The deadline for 2024-25 grants is Friday, September 15, 2024 at 5 PM eastern.  Decisions will be made by October 15.

The MOVE Committee judges grant requests primarily on the degree to which they promote literacy in the community, but also considers these criteria: whether the planned activity encourages participation by multiple categories (Active, Retired and Aspiring Educators) of KEA membership; the number of children and students that are expected to participate; the expected level of publicity and community outreach; how the activity supports the development of strong KEA local;, and other relevant criteria.  All Read Across America grant applications must be submitted using this link.
The deadline for 2024-25 grants is Friday, September 15, 2024 at 5 PM eastern.