The Ashford University Teacher Appreciation Scholarship Program, in partnership with the San Diego County Office of Education, will be awarding scholarships to four teachers in California’s San Diego County. The winning instructors will be selected based on their responses to essays about the involvement of technology in modern learning, classroom collaboration and the school community.

In a pre-game ceremony at San Diego’s Petco Park during Teacher Appreciation Night on May 6, recipients of the Ashford University scholarships will be introduced to fans attending the Padres’ home game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ashford University, an academic institution owned by Bridgepoint Education (NYSE: BPI), is in its fifth year of sponsoring the Padres Teacher Appreciation Night at the stadium.

These Ashford University scholarships can be applied to either a Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning with Technology or a Master of Arts in Education degree. Applicants will be required to submit three essays, all of which will be judged by a blind review panel comprised of representatives from the San Diego County Office of Education and Ashford University.

Both Ashford University degrees were created to support teachers working in a modern classroom. The Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning with Technology is specifically meant to develop skills in using emerging technology as educational tools, helping graduates lead their students towards the future while enforcing the importance of traditional subject matter. With 16 different specializations, the Master of Arts in Education presents a broad capacity for educators to find a focus that supports their career goals. More details about these degrees are available at ashford.edu/masters.

Full- and part-time teachers at public and private schools in San Diego County are eligible for the Ashford University Teacher Appreciation Scholarship Program. Information can be found at ashfordteacherappreciation.com. The deadline for submissions is March 6, 2011. Scholarship winners will be contacted by March 30, 2011.

About Ashford University

Founded in 1918, Ashford University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (www.ncahlc.org). The University offers graduate and undergraduate degree programs online and at its Clinton, Iowa, campus. The University is known for its high quality yet highly affordable online and on-campus programs. For more information, please visit www.ashford.edu or call Shari Rodriguez, associate vice president of Public Relations, at 858.513.9240 x2513.