A Fascination for Math Leads to a New York State Scholarship

ALBANY, NY (02/24/2009)(readMedia)-- At a young age, Meaghan Masterson of Stillwater, New York was attracted to math. Her fascination with numbers and the relationship between figures and forms soon turned to a love of the subject. With the inspiration of a favorite teacher, Masterson realized that she was meant to be a math teacher.

Currently a junior at the College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York, Masterson is pursuing that dream. And, with the help of the New York State Math and Science Teaching Incentive Scholarship, she will be able to graduate with a lighter financial burden than some other college students. Masterson was one of 237 recipients of the scholarship granted to New York math and science education majors in the award's inaugural year.

"This scholarship will help achieve my goal by helping me pay my student loans off, so I do not have to worry about my loans when I start teaching," said Masterson.

Now in its second year, the Math and Science Teaching Incentive Scholarship was created to meet the need for more dedicated math and science teachers in New York's high schools. The scholarship is administered by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC), the agency that helps people pay for college.

The maximum award is equal to the annual undergraduate state resident tuition charged at the State University of New York.

Scholarship recipients, in return, agree to teach math or science on a full-time basis at any secondary school in the State for five years.

The application deadline is March 15. Eligibility details and supplemental application for the 2008-09 New York State Math and Science Teaching Incentive Scholarship are available now on the HESC Web site at www.hesc.org.

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