Highline Future Teachers Kelly Linderman Scholarship (UA)


The purpose of the scholarship is to create opportunities for outstanding graduates of Highline Academy who plan to pursue a career in teaching and/or education broadly. The scholarship was created in honor of Kelly Linderman, whose passion for education impacted many students.

Eligibility

  • Graduated from Highline Academy Charter School
  • Cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.0+
  • Interest in pursuing a career in teaching or education broadly, including but not limited to education administration or social work within a school setting
  • Planning to attend an accredited, not-for-profit, 2- or 4-year post-secondary institution in the U.S. during the fall of 2026

Selection criteria

Applications will be reviewed based on:

  • Academic performance
  • Embodiment of Highline Academy’s core values in their personal and academic life: Responsibility, Empowerment, Aspiration, Citizenship, and Honesty
  • Reference(s)
  • Financial need
  • Professional interest
  • Preference will be given to:
    • Applicants pursuing a career in teaching

Award details

  • Scholarship Range: $5,000
  • Typical Number of Awards: 1
  • This scholarship is a one-time award
  • Award amounts may be used toward the recipient’s tuition and fees
  • All scholarships will be paid directly to a recipient’s post-secondary institution. Award disbursement is contingent upon the outside scholarship policies of a recipient’s post-secondary institution
  • Award must be used for the upcoming academic year

To learn more about past recipients, click here. 

How to apply 

  1. Read through the eligibility criteria above to confirm you meet the requirements for this scholarship
  2. Log into TDF Scholarship Manager and apply for the Universal Scholarship
  3. Prepare and submit the following items:
    1. List of all extracurricular activities and community volunteering opportunities you have had
    2. Transcript 
    3. Email address for one recommendation(s)
      1. One community recommendation
    4. Response to the following prompt(s):
      1. Describe how you embody the core values of Highline Academy, REACH (Responsibility, Empowerment, Aspiration, Citizenship, and Honesty), in your personal and academic life. For more information on Highline Academy’s core values, click here. (5,000 characters or approximately 800 words)
      2. Highline Academy and Kelly Linderman shared a vision to create inclusive excellence in public education. Please share your vision for your career and detail what inspires it. (5,000 characters or approximately 800 words)
    1.  

About Kelly


Kelly Linderman 1Kelly Linderman steadfastly believed that education is the great equalizer in life. Kelly began her teaching career in 1995 as a kindergarten teacher in a private school in Maryland. She loved her work but felt she could make a more important contribution by teaching students more in need. She moved to northern Virginia where she took a pay cut and worked longer hours to teach first grade in a more diverse public school. She was devoted to the academic success of her students and took every opportunity to learn the latest research-based practices.

She was a beloved educator not only because of her warmth and humor, but because she truly believed in each and every child she met. She wanted and expected the best from them. Strong character, work ethic, and passion for learning are traits Kelly exemplified and fostered and which mirror Highline Academy’s mission and values. She would have loved being a teacher at Highline, where the community of students and adults strive together each and every day for excellence, not only in academics, but also in civic and personal responsibilities. 

Kelly was drawn to teaching from her earliest days, successfully practicing on her unsuspecting younger brother. There was never a doubt where her career path was headed. Her life was filled with helping others and her cancer diagnosis never slowed her down or deterred her. Her final thoughts were of her brother, for whom she videotaped herself reading her favorite children’s books for his yet-to-be-born children. 

Her family and friends are pleased to establish this scholarship in her honor. The hope is that it will help Highline students begin a career that is as rewarding and meaningful as Kelly’s was.