Four National Louis University Students Named 2026 Patricia Cassin-Graft Scholars
National Louis University is proud to recognize four exceptional teacher candidates as recipients of the Fall/Winter 2026 Patricia Cassin-Graft Student Teacher Award, a scholarship designed to support aspiring educators as they complete their student teaching experiences.
The Fall/Winter 2026 recipients are:
- Edith Gonzalez (BA Early Childhood Education & Elementary Education)
- Elysyka Rainey Beals, NLU ’13 (MAT Early Childhood Education)
- Yungshan Tsou (MAT Secondary Education – World Languages)
- Angela Young, NLU ’20 (MAT Early Childhood Education)
Administered through NLU’s National College of Education, the Patricia Cassin-Graft Student Teacher Award helps ease the financial burden many students face while completing the demanding requirements of student teaching. The scholarship provides critical support during a transformative stage in candidates’ professional preparation, allowing them to focus on developing the skills and experiences needed to become impactful educators.
“These scholarships are life-changing for our teacher candidates,” said Lisa Mozer, Executive Director of Field Experience & PK-12 School Partnerships. “The commitment of our faculty members, who take the time to advocate for students through letters of recommendation, helps make these opportunities possible.”
Student teaching is a defining milestone in every educator’s journey, providing hands-on classroom experience under the guidance of experienced mentor teachers. Through their dedication to academic excellence, leadership and service, this year’s scholarship recipients exemplify the values and mission of National Louis University.
NLU extends its congratulations to Edith, Elysyka, Yungshan and Angela on this well-deserved recognition and wishes them continued success as they prepare to make a difference in classrooms and communities.
Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to note that an additional Patricia Cassin-Graft Student Teacher Award application cycle will open in January for eligible student teachers participating in the Fall/Winter and Winter/Spring terms.
For more information about the Patricia Cassin-Graft Student Teacher Award, visit the scholarship webpage.
