A teacher preparation program is accepting applications from prospects looking to become teachers in New Mexico.

The Golden Apple Scholars Program is available to students who wish to pursue a career in education by providing resources to help them become effective teachers, KOB 4 reported.

"We will bring the young people together, we pay them for their time with us, and then they return to their communities in the Summer and teach in summer programming in their own community," Alan Mather, president of the Golden Apple Foundation, told KOB 4. "So, they have hundreds of additional hours of experience by the time they walk in the classroom."

The program is accepting applications until May 27 from high school seniors to college sophomores who seek to teach students in New Mexico from pre-K to 12th grade, Golden Apple said on its site.

"Only institutions of higher education offering teacher education programs in New Mexico are considered eligible colleges and universities for participation in The Golden Apple Scholars in New Mexico Program," Golden Apple said on its site.

Ultimately, Golden Apple's goal is to have at least 10% of graduating teachers in New Mexico go through the program, which is roughly 200 teachers per year, KOB 4 reported.

"We're going to be piggybacking on what the New Mexico legislature has already put forward to ensure that people go into teaching and get state aid," Mather said.