
In 2007, former Missoula residents Dr. Donald and Marni Wattam and their son, DJ, established the DJ Wattam Scholarship endowment to recognize UM student paraeducators who work at the Co-Teach Preschool. The Wattam's $25,000 endowment was established through UM’s historic $100 million campaign, "Invest in Discovery." Each year an outstanding Co-Teach Preschool paraeducator will be awarded the DJ Wattam Scholarship in the amount of $1,000.
The DJ Wattam Scholarship selection committee developed the following criteria to help determine the best possible candidate to receive this honor each year:

- Merit - performance on the job at Co-Teach
- Good academic standing
- Years of service to Co-Teach
- Demonstration of the likelihood to make a positive impact in the field of special education
- Commitment to work at the Co-Teach Preschool a minimum of 10 hours per week during the academic year for which the scholarship is awarded

In April 2011, Jill Murphy was recognized for her outstanding contributions as a student employee at Co-Teach and received the DJ Wattam Scholarship at The U of M College of Education and Human Sciences annual scholarship reception. The Co-Teach staff are grateful to the Wattam family for their extraordinary generosity and their commitment to early intervention and those in the field.