Kay Battista Scholarship

Scholarship Information

When Kay Battista became the New Jersey State Teacher of the Year in 1972, she had a vision of a fund that would provide scholarships to students who showed great potential for the future of education. After Kay’s death, her family made a gracious donation to NNSTOY to establish this scholarship fund. Since then, the Kay Battista Scholarship has helped dozens of men and women realize their dreams of becoming outstanding educators.

Today, thanks to Kay’s vision, NNSTOY is able to provide two $1500 scholarships each year to a well-deserving student in the field of education. The scholarship is open to all students who plan to become teachers.

Note: One of the recommendation letters must be written by the NNSTOY member nominator.

Applications and supporting documents must be received by April 10, 2023.

Should you have any questions, please email nnstoyscholarships@gmail.com

You may not save and return to this form, please have all materials ready to submit prior to completing this form.

Qualifications and Requirements

The Kay Battista scholarship is not available to previous recipients or to experienced teachers. Applicants must:

Be a high school senior, a college undergraduate, a college graduate student seeking a first teaching certificate, or a college graduate seeking a graduate-level degree in education.
Have the equivalent of a C or better grade point average in the most recent school you attended (high school or college).
Be nominated by an active NNSTOY member.
Provide three (3) letters of recommendation: one from your NNSTOY member nominator and two from school or community professionals.
Submit the application by April 10, 2021.

Application Instructions

Complete the Applicant Information and Questionnaire
Have an NNSTOY member complete and sign the NNSTOY Member Endorsement
Write a Personal Statement of 250 words or less, and a biographical statement of 250 words or less, as outlined on the application.
Upload three (3) letters of recommendation: one from your NNSTOY member nominator and two from additional school and/or community professionals.
Upload the most recent college or high school transcript
Submit all items by April 10, 2021.

Application Deadline

April 10, 2021

Applicant Information

First Name *

MI *

Last Name *

Address 1 *

Address 2

City *

State *

Postal Code *

Phone *

Date of Birth: * +

Email Address *

College or University Information

School Name: *

Address 1 *

Address 2

City *

State *

Postal Code *

Financial Aid Officer Telephone Number: *

Grade Level

Most recent transcript *

NNSTOY Member Endorsement

Name of NNSTOY member endorsing the candidate (may be a State Teacher of the Year or a Finalist) *

State and Year of Recognition (example: New York, 2017) *

NNSTOY member's email address *

Questionnaire

What are your educational and professional goals and objectives? *

0/250 words

List your academic honors and achievements: *

0/250 words

List your community and paid service activities, extracurricular activities, hobbies and interests. *

0/250 words

Personal statement. Why is teaching important to you? *

0/250 words

Biography. (Include anything that you want to share.) *

0/250 words

Letters of Recommendation

Upload three (3) letters of recommendation one from your NNSTOY endorser and two from additional school and/or community professionals. If you already have a letter of recommendation that meets the requirements stated below, you may submit it. Here is a sample request that you may want to send to your recommenders:

"I am applying for the National Network of State Teachers of the Year (NNSTOY) scholarship “to a well-deserving student in the field of education. The scholarship is open to all students who plan to become teachers.”

My letters of recommendation require your signature, title, contact information, and answers to the following questions:

How long have you known the applicant? In what capacity?
Please evaluate the applicant's overall potential as a future educator (ex. intellectual capacity, character, leadership ability, interpersonal skills).

Please send me a signed PDF file of your letter, and I will upload it with my application.

Thank you."

Letter of Recommendation 1 *

Letter of Recommendation 2 *

Letter of Recommendation 3 *