Karen GJ Lewis Scholarship
Award Intent
To honor Karen GJ Lewis’s immense contributions to labor, education, social justice and community engagement, the Children & Teachers Foundation of the Chicago Teachers Union will award a $10,000 annual scholarship to promote and encourage the next generation of Black servant leaders in Chicago’s public education system.
Scholarship Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must be US citizens, or meet the “undocumented students” criteria of the RISE Act and identify as Black/African American.
- Applicants must be accepted for enrollment on at least a half-time basis as an undergraduate in a teacher preparation program, or alternative licensure program, at an accredited not-for-profit, public or private American college or university, which, upon completion, qualifies the applicant to be licensed as a school teacher by the Illinois State Board of Education.
- Applicants must be enrolled as a CPS student in the academic year of 2021-22 or must be an adult going back to college to become a teacher.
- Applicants must:
- demonstrate Financial Need by having applied for FAFSA financial aid through the US Dept. of Education (FAFSA.gov), and/or
- provide a copy of their Student Aid Report (SAR), or
- provide their college or university’s Needs Analysis, or
- provide a statement of financial need indicating why the scholarship is needed to overcome financial obstacles in gaining access to higher education.
How to Apply
Please send the completed application form to scholarships@ctuf.org with the subject line, “Karen Lewis Scholarship Application 2022 – Your Name” by Wednesday, June 1, 2022. No applications will be accepted after 11:59 pm.
The scholarship award winner will be announced on June 30, 2022.
For more details, please review the scholarship application overview and form.
For all inquiries, please contact Carmen Curet, CTUF Executive Director, at carmencuret@ctuf.org and 312-329-6285.
Karen GJ Lewis, National Board Certified Teacher, was elected president of the Chicago Teachers Union in 2010, and, through her bold leadership, changed the narrative around public education in Chicago and the United States. During her tenure, the CTU created a model for union organizing and the fight for education justice, and built strong and lasting relationships with parents and community organizations across the city.
Under Karen’s dynamic vision, Chicago Public School educators launched the city’s first strike in more than 25 years, after which teachers returned to classrooms not only with fair wages, but a new path centered on social justice unionism and increased engagement of rank-and-file members. A longtime high school chemistry teacher, wife of a CPS teacher and coach, and daughter of two CPS educators, Karen and her team also fought to end school privatization and the influence of high-stakes, standardized testing; empowered educators to take on positions in city and state leadership; amplified support for professional learning and teacher leadership; and reactivated the Chicago Teachers Union Foundation and Children & Teachers Foundation.