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APALA Scholarship

Applications for the 2024 Scholarship are now open. Applications are due Monday, April 8, 2024.

Purpose

The APALA Scholarship is an annual $2,000 award that provides financial assistance to a student of Asian or Pacific background who is enrolled in, or has been accepted into, a master’s or doctoral degree program in library and/or information science at a school accredited by the American Library Association (ALA).

Sponsor

APALA is excited to offer a second $2000 Scholarship sponsored by SAGE Publishing.

Eligibility Criteria for the Award

  • Applicant must be attending or admitted into a master’s degree or doctoral program in library and/or information science at a school accredited by ALA. Students pursuing archives and other information studies concentrations are also eligible to apply.
  • Applicant may be either a full-time or part-time student.
  • Two $2000 scholarships will be awarded per year. The funds are given in two $1000 installments at the beginning of fall and spring semesters.
  • Applicant must be in library school by Fall 2024.
  • Applicant must be of Asian/Pacific Islander heritage.
  • Applicant must be an APALA member in good standing by the application by application deadline (Not a member? Find out how to join here).
  • Applicant must not have received an APALA scholarship award in a previous year.
  • Applicant must be willing to serve on the Scholarship Committee the following year if the award is received.

Selection Timeline

  • Applications Due: Monday, April 8, 2024
  • Applicants Notified of Final Decision: Monday, May 13, 2024
  • Recipient Announced: Monday, May 20, 2024

Application Requirements:

Each application requires the following materials to be submitted by the applicant:

  • Copy of resume/CV
  • Copy of school transcripts from past undergraduate or graduate degrees (official or unofficial)
  • Two letters of recommendation
    • Letters should highlight the applicant’s academic and personal abilities and their potential to make positive contributions to the library profession (If your references prefer, they can send letters of recommendation directly to the Scholarships & Awards Committee: scholarships@apalaweb.org)
  • Submission of personal essay to ONE of the following prompts. Please limit your response to 500 words or less.
  1. What do you believe are some of the most important issues, topics, or developments facing the information/library profession today, and what contributions do you hope to make as a future APA Librarian that will address these issues?

OR

  1. Submit your own library/information science-related prompt (If selecting this prompt, please include the prompt that you are answering in bold at the top of your submission. The only requirement is that the prompt chosen must address topics related to the field of library/information science in your own unique voice as a prospective library/information professional. If the essay is not relevant to the library/information field, the application will not be considered).

How to Apply

To apply to the APALA Scholarship, please fill out the following application form by Monday, April 8, 2024. Access Application here.

Recommendation letters should be submitted directly by the applicant through the Application Form. If your references prefer, they can send letters of recommendation directly to the Scholarships & Awards Committee: scholarships@apalaweb.org by Monday, April 8, 2024

Evaluation Criteria for Awards:

The applications submitted for the APALA Scholarship will be evaluated on three main components: Evidence of leadership potential (see: https://www.ala.org/llama/leadership-and-management-competencies for reference), strength of essay, and overall merit of application packet. Preference will be given to applicants with a strong financial need (i.e. any applicants that are not receiving more than 5K in funding from other sources for the upcoming academic year).

Administrative Procedures

  • The APALA Scholarship shall be administered under the By-Laws of APALA.
  • Two $2000 scholarships will be awarded per year. The funds are given in $1000 payments at the beginning of fall and spring semesters.
  • A Scholarship check distributed to the recipient after proof of enrollment for the fall or spring semester in an accredited graduate program are provided.
  • In the event that no applicants satisfy the selection criteria in a given year, no scholarship will be awarded, with the option to grant additional scholarships the following year.
  • An APALA member who receives any APALA grant/award may not receive another grant/award in the same year.
  • Those that are in dual degree programs are only eligible for this award if they have not already completed the Master’s in Library and/or Information Science portion of their dual degree program.
  • If the Scholarship Fund should grow to an extent that sufficient income is available to finance more than one scholarship in a given year, the Scholarship & Awards Committee shall have the authority to award additional scholarships as authorized by the Executive Board. Additional scholarships will be awarded based on the same criteria and factors stated above.
  • For the Sage & JCLC Inc. NALCo LIS Student Scholarship, the award winner will be required to write a 500 – 800 word blog post at some point during the school year articulating how the award benefited them among other items (prompt TBD) to be posted on a Sage blog and at any other location as requested by APALA.

Contact Information

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact the APALA Scholarships & Awards Committee: scholarships@apalaweb.org

Past APALA Scholarship Winners

  • Gelli Marie Nocon (APALA Scholarship 2023)
  • Jennifer Nguyen Bernal (APALA Sage and JCLC NALCo LIS Student Scholarship 2023)
  • Hayley Park (2022)
  • Amrita S. Patel (2021)
  • Patricia Ledesma Villon (2020)
  • Bean Yogi (2019)
  • Yer Vang (2018)
  • Lara Maestro (2017)
  • Jessica Tai (2016)
  • Melody Tsz-Way Leung (2015)
  • Hannah Rainey (2014)
  • Christina Nhek (2013)
  • Paul Lai (2012)
  • Jina Park (2011)
  • Harrison W. Inefuku (2010)
  • Vivian Wong (2009)
  • Michael Habata (2008)
  • Julian Yoko Prentice (2007)
  • Lana Mariko Wood (2006)
  • Richard Le (2005)
  • Jody Lovaj (2004)
  • Florante Ibanez and Thu Phuong Hoang Nguyen (2003)
  • Todd Honma and Eydie Detera (2002)