As the University struggles to find ways to conserve resources, the biggest recycling act may be coming from the fourth floor of Poe Hall.

A small office is the home to the Teaching Fellows program, one of the biggest scholarships on campus, according to Laura Soto, director of Teaching Fellows — initiated by the state legislature in 1986.

Sunday, the Teaching Fellows hosted Recruitment Day, an opportunity for regional finalists for the scholarship — all high school seniors — to see the functionality of the program and the University.

“We had 90 students RSVP, and that doesn’t include their parents,” Megan Roberts, a sophomore in English education and co-chair of Recruitment Day, said. “It is our biggest crowd — last year we only had 65.”

One reason for the higher attendance may be a summer decision by state legislators to increase the amount of available scholarships from 400 to 500, a number, according to Soto, that still doesn’t satisfy North Carolina’s need for teachers.

“Even putting 500 students into the system does not meet the number of teachers retiring or leaving the state,” Soto said. “The Teaching Fellows program is not meeting the deficit.”

The scholarship, which is offered at 13 schools across the state, provides recipients with a $6,500 award each year.

“While I am not going to scoff at the amount of money my students get, the cost of college is going up and has been since the scholarship began; but the amount of money my students are receiving isn’t increasing,” Soto said. “That is something I would like to see change.”

Like all good things in life, the Teaching Fellows scholarship doesn’t come without its price.

Students in the program are required to teach for four years in the North Carolina Public School system within seven years of graduation, or pay back the money they used with interest. According to Soto, students sometimes drop the scholarship after they realize they don’t really fit the teaching mold.

“Of the 40 students that started four years ago, we have 29 that are completing the program and graduating in May,” Soto said. “We do have students [who] realize that it isn’t a match.”

For most, the scholarship, which includes obligatory community service and social events, solidifies the desire to teach.

“Through the Teaching Fellows program at N.C. State I have found that I really do want to be a teacher,” James Hankins, a political science sophomore with a social studies teaching option, said. “Sometimes you get involved with groups that you find you just don’t enjoy, but [Teaching Fellows] has made me love the job of teaching.”

Hankins, co-chair of Recruitment Day, said passion is what the program tried to pass on to prospective students and their parents on Sunday.

“Some of these people may come and not receive the scholarship, but hopefully we’ve showed them something different, and they may decide to attend the University anyway,” he said.

Scott Floyd, a freshman in earth science education, said his first year at the University was bettered by his involvement in Teaching Fellows.

“I am really glad I got into the program because I don’t think I would have enjoyed my first years as much,” Floyd said. “It’s a good way to network with people who have the same interests.”

Roberts said the camaraderie is one of the defining qualities of the program.

“I think one of the benefits of being a Teaching Fellow at NCSU is that there is a lot of diversity, but you also have programs like big-little sib,” Roberts said, alluding to a mentoring program within the scholarship. “It’s the best of both worlds.”

Soto said the program embodies the University’s emphasis on diversity.

“We are seeking to have 30 percent male and 20 percent minority participation,” Soto said.

Race and gender aside, the students and potential students of the Teaching Fellows programs define themselves through their passion for their future career field.

“It started my junior year of high school when I had a great English teacher,” Jerrod McKinney, a high school senior from High Point and regional finalist for the scholarship, said. “I just want to inspire students and make English exciting like he did for me.”

Maybe one day McKinney’s students will be at Recruitment Day saying the same thing and continuing the resourceful cycle.