Carl J. Megel Special Education Scholarship

Carl J. Megel Special Education Scholarship provides financial assistance to children of members of the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) who have been enrolled in special education and are interested in attending college in any state. The award is up to $20,000. Applications open January 2, 2026 and close March 4, 2026. An essay is required. The program is open to graduating high school seniors who are children of currently-employed active members of the IFT or of deceased members who were in good standing at the time of their death. Applicants must be enrolled in a special education school, class, or program for students with autism, cognitive disability, deafblindness, deafness, emotional disability, hearing impairment, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, or visual impairment.