The UC Riverside School of Education (SOE) is dedicated to building an education workforce to serve historically underrepresented communities in the Inland Empire (IE) area of Southern California. The IE community is over 50% people of color, with a significant Latina/o/x, Black, Asian/Asian American, and Indigenous population groups. Our goal is to prepare and equip undergraduate students to be community-ready and equity centered after graduation to contribute to the workforce needs of the IE.

With this in mind, we are excited to announce the inaugural Fueling the Inland Empire Region with Community Educators, or FIERCE Scholars Program. This info session will go over the program and application process. More info: https://education.ucr.edu/fierce-scholars

The following are the advantages of becoming a FIERCE scholar:
•    $3,000 scholarship total: $1,000 for junior and senior years and $1,000 for a Master’s program in the SOE
•    Possible job opportunities with partner districts
•    Ongoing mentorship
•    Invitations to SOE speaker series
•    Networking opportunities with faculty, staff, and students committed to educational improvement
•    Name of cohort members to remain on SOE Fierce Scholars page

Eligibility and application requirements:
•    Junior year standing (incoming UCR SOE junior or SOE transfer student with junior year status)
•    SOE major, double major between SOE undergraduate major and another UCR major (i.e., psychology, math, Ethnic Studies, etc.), no SOE minor-only allowed
•    2.5 GPA minimum with current unofficial transcripts
•    Two academic references or one academic reference and one non-academic reference (i.e., employer, volunteer    organization).
•    Priority given to applicants who attended an Inland Empire high school with a student population that is at least 50% Low SES and/or Title I status
•    Priority given to 1st generation college students and/or applicants who are bilingual or come from a home language in Spanish, Black or African American Language, Mandarin, etc.