Unsung Heroes Grant Program Now Accepting Applications from K-12 Educators, Staff for Classroom Projects

  • By Kristal Kuykendall
  • 02/13/23

The Voya Unsung Heroes grant program, which awards $2,000 each to 50 educators to fund innovative classroom projects plus three top awards of up to $25,000, is now accepting applications through April 28, 2023.

The program is managed by Scholarship America and is open to all K–12 educators, teachers, principals, paraprofessionals, or classified staff “with effective and innovative projects that improve student learning,” at accredited public or private schools in the United States, according to the UnsungHeroes.com website.

Applicants do not need to be clients of the sponsor, Voya Financial, to be eligible. Applications are accepted until 3 p.m. Central time on April 28.

The online application requires a brief description of the classroom project, its objective, its projected benefits to students, and impact evaluation methods to be used at the project’s conclusion.

All awards must be used to further the projects within the school or school system.

Each of the 50 finalists will receive an award of $2,000, and three of those finalists will ultimately selected for additional grants: first place will receive $25,000, second place $10,000, and third place $5,000, according to the program website.

Applicants will be notified by Fall 2023 whether they have been selected to receive an award.

Learn more and apply at Scholarsapply.org/unsungheroes

About the Author

Kristal Kuykendall is editor, 1105 Media Education Group. She can be reached at [email protected].


Featured

  • sunlit classroom with laptops on every desk, each displaying a glowing AI speech bubble icon above the screen

    Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot to Become Available for Teen Students

    This summer, Microsoft is expanding availability of its Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot products for students aged 13 and older. Administrators will be able to grant access for students based on their institution's plans and preferences, the company announced in a blog post.

  • AI-powered individual working calmly on one side and a burnt-out person slumped over a laptop on the other

    AI's Productivity Gains Come at a Cost

    A recent academic study found that as companies adopt AI tools, they're not just streamlining workflows — they're piling on new demands. Researchers determined that "AI technostress" is driving burnout and disrupting personal lives, even as organizations hail productivity gains.

  • students using digital devices, surrounded by abstract AI motifs and soft geometric design

    Ed Tech Startup Kira Launches AI-Native Learning Platform

    A new K-12 learning platform aims to bring personalized education to every student. Kira, one of the latest ed tech ventures from Andrew Ng, former director of Stanford's AI Lab and co-founder of Coursera and DeepLearning.AI, "integrates artificial intelligence directly into every educational workflow — from lesson planning and instruction to grading, intervention, and reporting," according to a news announcement.

  • teenager’s study desk with a laptop displaying an AI symbol, surrounded by books, headphones, a notebook, and a cup of colorful pencils

    Student AI Use on the Rise, Survey Finds

    Ninety-three percent of students across the United States have used AI at least once or twice for school-related purposes, according to the latest AI in Education report from Microsoft.