2024 VESEL Scholars gather at the NSELA Summer Leadership Institute in Seattle, WA

Award Benefits & Criteria

Scholars receive $500 to assist with travel to the Summer Leadership Institute, a chance to work with a mentor, and the opportunity to be part of a VESEL Scholars cohort!

The following criteria must be met to apply for the scholarship. Candidates do not need to be a member of NSELA before an application is submitted. When candidates apply, they must become members of NSELA.

• Be a new, emerging, and/or novice science leader role at the school, district, state, or informal level for five years or less. The five-year limit is specific to the leadership role and work for which the candidate is being nominated. Previous leadership roles that are very different are not counted in the five years.
  
  

• Submit an application packet that includes a resume or vita, a personal letter with evidence that illustrates new, emerging, and/or novice science leadership, and a support letter from a supervisor.
  
  

• Agree to work with an NSELA mentor during their VESELS year. During the Summer Leadership Institute (SLI), all scholarship awardees will meet with the mentor and share how they will apply SLI learning to their work settings. After six months, awardees will reflect on how they apply their SLI experience in the Navigator newsletter and online with other scholarship awardees and mentors. 

Region Descriptions

Application Process

Applicants submit the following: 

1. Resume or Curriculum Vitae (maximum of 2 pages) that includes name, position/title, email, work and home phone numbers, work and home addresses, an educational record of earned degrees with dates and field of study, plus any additional formal education, professional development opportunities, previous work experience, any professional memberships and positions in or contributions to those organizations, and presentations related to science education. Optional: special awards or other forms of professional recognition and publications related to science education.
   
   

2. Personal letter with evidence demonstrating accomplishments with specific examples that illustrate new, emerging, and/or novice science leadership and how the Summer Leadership Institute would benefit your work (maximum of 2 pages). Include a statement that you agree to work with an NSELA mentor, other scholarship recipients online and write a reflection article for the NSELA Navigator through July 2025. Give one example of what you might contribute to the online learning community.
   
   

3. Support letter from a supervisor or colleague that gives evidence of leadership accomplishments with specific examples and why attendance at the Summer Leadership Institute would benefit your work as a science leader (maximum of 2 pages). The supervisor or colleague should include his/her work title and contact information.

Timeline

Why apply for VESELS? Here is what an alumnus has said about their experience as a VESELS recipient:

"I am in my first administrative position after being a classroom teacher for 8 years.  Since the first day I became a science education leader, I have tried my best to embody servant leadership – with a big focus on supporting my staff and their cohesion and efficacy as a professional group.  I decided to apply because I felt that being a VESELS scholarship recipient would teach me how to lean in to my philosophy and catapult me into being able to further amplify my impact.  I see being a VESELS scholar, and being a member of NSELA, lets me strengthen my core values - connecting me to science advocates and leaders at the national level, and allowing me to learn from the many, amazing individuals of NSELA and from my own NSELA mentor. There are innumerable networking contacts and helpful tips and strategies that I have learned as a member of NJSELA and NSELA, but when anyone asks me for feedback specifically about this scholarship, what my mind always goes to is a feeling of being invigorated by the cohort it puts me in with the other VESELS scholars, and feeling really recharged by establishing strong connections with my mentor.  We spent the year authentically ‘seeing’ each other through our similarities and our struggles, and continue our relationship celebrating each of our own unique strengths and the ways in which we can be useful supports to each other. I made the decision to apply to VESELS because I had a clear goal: I want to be the kind of leader who is authentic, connected, and efficient, working in a strong network to promote excellent science education.  And I’m lucky to say that, with NSELA and being a VESELS scholar, I really feel a part of a true professional community built of those very types of leaders in a way I haven’t before."

Jessica Pritchard, VESEL Scholar 23’

Questions?

If you have questions, contact Eric Rhoades, Membership Committee.

VESELS Application 

Apply Today

VESELS Awardees

2024

Alex Kuziola, NJ
Summer Pelton, UT
Stacey Cole, VA
Courtney Toht, TX
Nicole Vick, IL
Kayla Boykin, NC

2023

Linnea Gibson, MI
Lottie Peppers, NC
Lisa Kiel, NJ
Jessica Pritchard, NJ
Halim Sakarya, TX
Christine Sudzina Schut, NC

Jonathan Regino, PA
Dr. Dorothy Holley, NC
Dr. Charles Holloway, AL
Ann C. Mulvihill, TX
Tara Allgood, TX
Spencer Martin, KS

2019

Candace Penrod - Salt Lake City School District
Charlie Seo - Village Christian School
Christine Benita - Seattle Public Schools
Karen Covil - Lincoln Public Schools
Mark Case - Southern Guilford High

2018

Jennifer Gibson, Texas
Brianna Greco, Nebraska
Amy Hochschild, Ohio
Alyssa Mocharnuk, Massachusetts
Katrina Reno, Mississippi
Dylann Pinkman, Nebraska

2017

Sarah Adumat, Wisconsin
Alfonso Garcia, Oregon
Joe Simmons, Florida
Heather Moll, Arizona
Anissa Angier, Oklahoma
Amy K. Murphy, Ph.D., Alabama

2016

Brennan Brockbank, California
Sephali Thakkar, Connecticut

2015

Holly Steele, California

2014

Bruce Jones, Arizona
Tracey Staley, Florida