This scholarship aims to inspire and support the next generation of Catholic educators by providing up to a four-year scholarship, with a total award amount up to $60,000, to exceptional students who are committed to the mission of Catholic education. In return, recipients will commit to work as teachers in Diocese of Wichita schools for a period no less than four years, thereby sharing their faith, knowledge, and passion with future generations. Beyond the initial semester’s award of up to $7,500, the scholarship is renewable for up to seven additional semesters, provided the recipient meets renewal requirements. New scholarship(s) awarded each year are subject to available funding.

Criteria: Applicants must meet the following criteria:
1. Educational Background: the candidate must be a graduate or graduating senior from a Catholic Diocese of Wichita high school or have graduated from a parish grade school.
2. Commitment to Education: applicants must demonstrate a clear intention to pursue a career in teaching and a dedication to the field of education.
3. Enrollment at a University or College: candidates must be accepted and enrolled full-time into a university’s or college’s education program as a first-year or second-year student.
4. Post-Graduation Service Commitment: following post-secondary graduation, scholarship recipients are required to teach in a Catholic Diocese of Wichita school for a period no less than four years.
5. Service Agreement: recipients of the Mary Sweet Teaching Scholarship must agree to complete their education degree at a university or college and to teach in a low-income or rural Catholic Diocese of Wichita school for a period no less than four years. Failure to fulfill these requirements will result in the obligation to repay the full amount of the Mary Sweet Teaching Scholarship funds that have been paid to the university or college on their behalf.
6. Citizenship: is an American citizen or a legal resident of the United States.

Application Guidelines: To apply, students must submit the following:
1. A completed scholarship application form.
2. A high school transcript showing GPA, and SAT or ACT scores.
3. Two letters of recommendation.

Renewal Requirements: To renew the scholarship, recipients must:
1. Maintain a cumulative GPA in college of 2.75.
2. Maintain at least 15 credit hours per semester.
3. Continued progress towards a degree in education.
4. Submit grades of the previous semester, and their course schedule for the next semester. Recipients must submit all required materials to [email protected] within 30 days of the semester concluding. Failure to provide may result in the scholarship being revoked.

*Exceptions to the above criteria may be requested and shall include a detailed explanation of the basis for the request.

Deadlines and Award Details:
Scholarship applications open January 1, 2026 and are due by March 1, 2026. Interviews will be conducted by the selection committee, with scholarship recipients being notified by April 1, 2026. The scholarship award will be paid directly to the school and can be used for tuition and fees.

Scholarship Selection:
The Catholic Diocese of Wichita will administer the scholarship and make the award based on the recommendation of the Catholic Schools scholarship selection committee.