PDK International Scholarship Program

PDK International awards over 100 scholarships annually to support students pursuing careers in education. The program includes both one-time and renewable awards.

Geographic Scope: International (no U.S. citizenship requirement)

Award Details:

• Over 100 scholarships available annually
• One-time and renewable awards ranging from $500 to $4,000
• Renewable awards designated by donors can be awarded up to four years
• Awards are sent to educational institutions and applied to tuition, fees, room, and board for fall semester
• Funds cannot be applied to spring/summer tuition, classroom supplies, retroactively, or deferred
• Check issued once yearly in summer

Eligibility Requirements:
1. Must be a member in good standing of one of the following:
- Educators Rising (high school students, $15/year membership)
- Educators Rising Collegiate (undergraduate students, $25/year membership)
- Pi Lambda Theta (honor society, 3.5+ GPA required, $74 one-time initiation fee)
- PDK Association (undergraduate and graduate students)
2. Pursuing a career in public education
3. Enrolled full-time or part-time in an institution of higher education for the fall semester of the application year
4. Must be enrolled and paying tuition/fees in fall; if not enrolled in fall, ineligible
5. No minimum credit hour requirement for part-time students
6. International students eligible

Not Eligible For:

• Applicants not enrolled in fall semester
• Non-career-in-education pursuits
• Non-members

Scholarship Selection Process: Members and staff of PDK International serve on volunteer review committees to select scholarship recipients.

Notification: All applicants notified of status in mid-to-late June by email from scholarships@pdkintl.org

Contact Information:

• Email: scholarships@pdkintl.org
• Phone: 800-766-1156
• Website: pdkintl.org/scholarships
• Mailing Address: P.O. Box 13090, Arlington, VA 22219

Special Notes:

• Fee waivers available for Educators Rising ($15) if financial circumstances prevent payment (call 800-766-1156)
• Students can apply once per year and be considered for all scholarships they're eligible for
• Recipients may be re-apply every year if eligible
• Recipients identified by full name, hometown, school on website and in promotional materials (permission given by accepting award)
• Mandatory reporting applies if applicant discloses past or current child abuse/neglect
• Local PDK Chapters may offer additional scholarship opportunities
• Transcript requirement: most recent transcript (typically fall semester immediately preceding application opening)
• Advanced degree students may submit up to three transcripts

Application Process

Application Period: Early January through early April annually

Access: Applications submitted online through Slayte application management system via membership portal (no separate application needed if you already applied)

Login Requirements: Must login to member account for:

Application Features:

Required Materials:

1. Personal Statement (250 words maximum)
- Share something learned about teaching and/or public education system
- Consider discussing teaching experience, challenges facing profession/public education, how you see yourself addressing challenges, thoughts on instructional methods/teaching philosophies

2. PDK Membership Involvement Description (150 words maximum)
- Describe involvement with Educators Rising, Educators Rising Collegiate, Pi Lambda Theta, and/or Phi Delta Kappa
- Include any leadership roles held

3. Other Activities Description (150 words maximum)
- Activities where you worked with others in teaching/learning capacity
- Service activities, clubs, sports
- Paid employment
- Home responsibilities (caring for children, elderly relatives)
- Any leadership roles held and years of involvement

4. Transcripts (up to three)
- Include most recent or final undergraduate transcript
- Include advanced degree transcripts if applicable
- Do NOT need to be official
- Save with filename format: LastName_transcript.pdf

5. Letter of Recommendation
- Written by person not related to applicant
- Person should be familiar with academic abilities and activities
- Should address interest in teaching and qualities making you successful educator
- Usually written by teacher, counselor, or supervisor
- Does NOT need to be sealed
- If writer policy requires seal, have them send to scholarships@pdkintl.org and staff will attach
- Save with filename format: LastName_letter.pdf
- Request early; deadline cannot be extended for incomplete applications

Submission Instructions:

Notification: Applicants will be emailed results mid-to-late June from scholarships@pdkintl.org (check spam folder)

Post-Award Process: