Qwest Foundation Funds Scholarships Offered to
Teachers in 14 States by Western Governors University

SALT LAKE CITY -- Teachers in 14 states have the opportunity to earn their master's degrees through scholarships funded by the Qwest Foundation and offered by Western Governors University (www.wgu.edu). Ten scholarships valued up to $5,000 each will be awarded to qualified teachers in the 14 states in which Qwest provides local service.

Teachers can continue to work in their own classrooms while earning a master's degree online. Western Governors University is a non-profit, fully-accredited online university, which is competency-based. WGU is also the only online university accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). The degrees offered include Master's of Education in Learning and Technology, Master's of Education in Measurement and Evaluation, and Master's of Arts in Mathematics Education, Master's of Arts in Science Education and Master's of Arts in English Language Learning. Candidates must be currently licensed K-12 teachers in a U.S. school in the following states: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington or Wyoming.

The WGU-Qwest Excellence in Education scholarship money can be credited at the rate of $1,000 per six-month term, renewable up to five terms. Although WGU's competency-based program does allow students to complete the requirements of the degree programs in less than two-and-a-half years, the scholarship monies are based on a reasonable experience of five six-month terms to complete the program. Applicants can complete a free application for federal student aid and submit a short essay on teaching philosophy and career objectives.

WGU continues to help fill the need for qualified teachers in the high-need areas of math and science. The Qwest Foundation scholarships help make professional development accessible and affordable through WGU. This is a competitive program and scholarships will be awarded based on academic record, current competency and other considerations. Applications should be submitted as soon as possible. More about the WGU-Qwest Excellence in Education Scholarships can be found at: http://www.wgu.edu/qwestscholarship.

About the Qwest Foundation
The Qwest Foundation's core principle is that investing in people and communities provides lasting value for the future. The Qwest Foundation awards grants to community-based programs that generate high-impact and measurable results, focusing on K through grade 12 education and economic development. More information is available at: http://www.qwest.com/about/company/community/foundation/.