2005 Inspired Teacher Scholarships for Visual Learning Applications Now Available

Thirty Scholarships from Inspiration Software to be Awarded in Spring 2005; Five for Visual Learning “Rookies”

PORTLAND, OR — Sept. 14, 2004
Applications for Inspiration Software®'s 2005 Inspired Teacher Scholarships for Visual Learning are now available at www.inspiration.com/scholarship. For the seventh year, the Inspired Teacher Scholarship program will support professional development activities for educators who champion the integration of visual learning and technology into the curriculum. Thirty scholarships, each with a value of $750, will be awarded in the spring of 2005. Applications are due Jan. 27, 2005.

This school year also marks the debut of the Inspired Teacher Scholarship Rookie Awards. Five of the 30 scholarships are designated for educators who are just beginning to use visual learning instructional strategies with their students and are ready to learn more. To be eligible for a Rookie Award, candidates must be new to visual learning and demonstrate a desire and capacity to learn and apply visual learning techniques in their classrooms.

"Over the past six years, more than 120 educators have received our Inspired Teacher Scholarships for Visual Learning," said Mona Westhaver, president and co-founder, Inspiration Software. "Through the scholarship program, we are continuing our commitment to inspiring teachers to discover the ways that visual learning helps their students learn difficult concepts and build critical thinking, writing and comprehension skills."

Educators from K-12 schools and colleges and universities are eligible to apply for the 2005 Inspired Teacher Scholarships for Visual Learning. A minimum of one year of service is required and applicants must demonstrate that they have direct contact with students.

In 2004, successful applicants included technology coordinators, school library media specialists, college professors and elementary, middle and high school teachers from 18 U.S. states and Australia, Canada, Germany and Zimbabwe. Award recipients use the $750 scholarships for a wide range of professional development activities, including attendance at a conference, training event or professional education course where visual learning is a key topic.

About Inspiration Software, Inc.
Recognized as the leader in visual thinking and learning, Inspiration Software, Inc. develops and publishes innovative software tools that inspire learners of all ages to brainstorm, organize, plan and create. With more than 10 million users worldwide, the company's award-winning software is revolutionizing visual learning in education—inspiring students to develop strong thinking and organizational skills and improve their academic performance. Founded by Donald Helfgott and Mona Westhaver, the company's mission is to support improvements in education and make a positive difference in students' lives by providing software tools that help students learn to think.