The purpose of this award is to provide support for incoming students applying to the Early Childhood Education program. Preference to be made to applicants who: (1) clearly demonstrate a financial need; (2) demonstrate outstanding academic merit; and (3) typify an underrepresented group in the program (i.e., students from a diverse background including, but not limited to, considerations of racial and/or ethnic identities, first generation college students, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic challenges, etc.).