Congratulations to TPTE VolsTeach secondary education student, Sydney Allen, on receiving the 2025-2026 Nita Ganguly Memorial VolsTeach Scholarship!

The Nita Ganguly Memorial VolsTeach Scholarship is named after our dear former VolsTeach professor, Nita Ganguly, and is awarded based on academic achievement, teaching commitment, and potential. Sydney, from Knoxville, is a major in secondary education with a concentration in Biology. She has chosen a career in teaching because she always had a heart for working with youth and helping them see their potential. Her time at Austin-East Magnet High School inspired her to give back to Knoxville, the community that raised her. She has also been influenced by programs like YoungLife and mentors who showed her how powerful it is to build relationships with students beyond academics. Sydney would like to become a principal or Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) program coordinator and is passionate about writing grants for underfunded schools to ensure all students have access to high-quality science resources and hands-on learning experiences. She hopes to bring authentic relationships, engaging lessons, and a sense of belonging to her classroom. She wants her students to feel seen, capable, and excited about learning. Sydney says that the Teacher Education program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) has helped her to understand the importance of culturally responsive teaching and reflective practice and taught her to meet students where they are and design lessons that connect science to their real lives and communities.