Scholarships Offered by the Department of Special Education

At Ball State, 80 percent of our students qualify for financial aid. The Department of Special Education offers several scholarship opportunities to our students.

The source of the scholarships and the amount of the awards vary from year to year. Some of our commonly awarded scholarships are listed below.

Reminder: Students may apply for as many scholarships as they wish, but only one scholarship will be awarded to any individual student.

Scholarships are awarded at the annual awards brunch, usually held in mid-April.

Scholarships

David M. Meeks Memorial Scholarship

The David Meeks Memorial Scholarship was established in June 1993 by the family and friends of David M. Meeks. Realizing that attending college is expensive and can present a financial hardship to students and their family, this scholarship is designated to support incoming freshmen with a $1,000 scholarship freshman year, split between fall and spring semesters with the opportunity to renew for 3 additional years at $500 per year, split between semesters.

Award Amount

One award in the amount of $500.00

Criteria

Must have fewer than 31 credit hours the semester of application
Declared major in Early Childhood Special Education, Mild disabilities, or Deaf Education (preferred)
Exhibit outstanding achievement as reflected by a high school GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
Involved in some form of service to the community or participating in activities involving individuals with exceptional needs
Be a full time student both fall and spring semesters
Express financial need
Completed the FASFA

*This award requires an application essay and specific steps for renewal

How to Apply

All applications for incoming freshman are due July 7 each year. PDF Applications are available in spring semester by request directed to Dr. Penny Craig via email at pcraig@bsu.edu. Please submit completed applications and required materials to 00arplassman@bsu.edu.

Next One Up!

Terri Reed graduated from Ball State University in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in Special Education. In 1989, she earned a master’s degree in Special Education from Ball State. She has spent 30 years in public education as a teacher of special needs students. One half of these years were in elementary schools and the other half in a middle school. She has a passion for being a voice for students who don’t feel they have one. In her retirement, the purpose of the scholarship she set up is to recognize and award a student who is “the next one up”. Someone who will carry on and be an advocate and educator of students with special needs.

Award Amount

Two awards in the amount of $1000 each.

Criteria

Undergraduate Special Education major with a minimum 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.
Completed 40 credit hours in Special Education course work.
Preference given to a student who has documented experience volunteering/working alongside people with special needs outside the BSU course work experience.

How to Apply

PDF Applications are available in spring semester by request directed to Dr. Penny Craig via email at pcraig@bsu.edu. Please submit completed applications and required materials to 00arplassman@bsu.edu.

Reach Out to the Handicapped Scholarship

The Reach Out to the Handicapped of Indiana organization was established in 1985 to provide experiences that are not normally available to handicapped persons and to give people with handicaps a sense of wellbeing.

Award Amount

Two awards in the amount of $750 each.

Criteria

Be a resident of Indiana —preference to residents of Hancock County
Achieved overall 2.5 GPA
Major in any special education area and demonstrate the potential to be an excellent teacher
Demonstrate volunteer and/or work experiences with persons with special needs, through work experiences, and volunteering or through SCEC leadership.
Be a full-time student both fall and spring semesters OR
Be a part-time student working full time with persons with disabilities