New Scholarship Honours Outgoing Registrar

The Ontario College of Teachers is creating a new charitable foundation to recognize excellence in teacher education.

The foundation's first order of business will be to establish and generate financial support for the Joseph W. Atkinson Scholarship for Excellence in Teacher Education.

Named in honour of the College's second Registrar, who is retiring at the end of March, the scholarship will contribute to the tuition of a student enrolled in one of Ontario's faculties of education. The award will acknowledge high academic achievement at the undergraduate level and evidence of other achievement and experience that indicates a high level of preparedness for teacher education.

Atkinson, a career educator with an international reputation as a proponent of ongoing teacher education, joined the College in 1997 and served as Co-ordinator of Professional Affairs and as Deputy Registrar before becoming Registrar in November 2000.

"Joe's many contributions to the professional development of Ontario teachers makes this a perfect tribute," says Council Chair Larry Capstick. "By providing funding and encouragement to promising new teachers, we honour one who has devoted his career to promoting teacher excellence."

The $2,000 scholarship will be awarded annually. Aside from start up and the legal establishment of the foundation itself, there will be no ongoing cost to the College. The foundation will seek contributions, which will be tax-deductible, to support the fund.

Council endorsed the creation of the Ontario College of Teachers Foundation as a federally incorporated charity to recognize and support excellence in teacher education. The foundation will award scholarships, bursaries and prizes to help educate teachers or those wishing to become teachers.

An 11-member board of directors comprised of the College Registrar, Deputy Registrar and members of the College's Executive Committee will govern the foundation. The deputy will act as its executive director.
Teacher education candidates accept-ed into Ontario consecutive programs and concurrent candidates proceeding to their final year in 2003-04 can apply. The first award will be made to a student in the teacher education class of 2003-04.

Donations to the Joseph W. Atkinson Scholarship for Excellence in Teacher Education can be made to the Ontario College of Teachers Foundation, 121 Bloor Street East, 6th Floor, Toronto ON M4W 3M5.

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