Kathleen L. Small Teaching Scholarship
Kathy Small was a lifelong educator in the San Jose area, where she was born and raised.
After many years teaching preschool, she returned to her alma mater (San Jose State) in the late 1980s to earn her multi-subject teaching credential, one night class at a time, and ultimately finished in 1994. She spent another 25 years teaching kindergarten through second grade, including 10 years with the San Jose Unified School District at Williams Elementary School. Even after retiring from teaching full time, she continued to substitute and work part time until the COVID-19 pandemic. She passed away in 2023 and is dearly missed, but her influence continues to be felt through her family, friends, colleagues, and former students.
This scholarship aims to honor Kathy's legacy by supporting students who share her love for education. Any undergraduate or graduate student in California who is pursuing a degree or credential in education may apply for this scholarship, but special consideration may be given to applicants involved in education in the San Jose area, including graduates of local school districts and students at San Jose State University or other local colleges.
To apply, tell us why you’re pursuing a career in education and if there is someone who inspired you to do so.
Why are you pursuing a career in education, and is there a particular person who inspires you in that area?
Winners and Finalists
November 2024
Winning Application
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FAQ
The application deadline is May 1, 2025. Winners will be announced on Jun 2, 2025.
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Award amounts per winner are designated by the donor. Check the award amount for a detailed breakdown.
The winner will be publicly announced on Jun 2, 2025. Prior to the announcement date, we may contact finalists with additional questions about their application. We will work with donors to review all applications according to the scholarship criteria. Winners will be chosen based on the merit of their application.
Award checks will be sent to the financial aid office of the winner's academic institution in their name to be applied to their tuition, and in the name of their institution (depending on the school's requirements). If the award is for a qualified educational non-tuition expense, we will work with the winner directly to distribute the award and make sure it goes towards qualified expenses.
Before we award the scholarship, the winner will be required to confirm their academic enrollment status. Depending on the circumstances, verification of Student ID and/or their most recent transcript will be required.
If you have any questions about this scholarship or the Bold.org platform, just email contact@bold.org and we’ll get back to you as quickly as we can.
Yes. The terms and conditions for this scholarship can be found here.