BRI Establishes Gary Colletti Scholarship for NCSS Attendees

Gary Colletti was a devoted educator who left a lasting legacy among the many teachers and students he helped support.

The Bill of Rights Institute is ensuring Colletti’s legacy continues through the establishment of the Gary Colletti Conference Scholarship, and will offer the first cohort of awards for the 2024 National Council for the Social Studies Annual Conference.

Colletti, a former classroom teacher in New York and Virginia, served as BRI’s Director of Teacher and Student Programs before passing away in 2021. He was beloved by students and educators, and meeting fellow teachers at the annual NCSS conference was always one of the highlights of his year.

Through the Gary Colletti Conference Scholarship, BRI is providing financial support to help educators attend this year’s NCSS conference, which will be held from Nov. 22-24 in Boston.

The scholarship is supporting 31 educators from across the nation for this year’s conference. Scholarship recipients will be able to participate in the numerous professional learning opportunities the conference provides, network with BRI staff, and spend time in BRI’s booth.

“Gary always took great pride and a deep sense of fulfillment from supporting teachers,” said BRI Chief Program Officer Stan Swim. “With this scholarship, we remember and honor Gary’s commitment to his fellow educators and his generosity of spirit.”

You can learn more about Colletti and his remarkable impact on the BRI website or by listening to this podcast episode.