The Baker Family Scholarship is a $1,000 scholarship available to MLIS students who live in the specified counties in the State of Georgia and is awarded once per academic year in the spring.  The scholarship will be applied to the student’s tuition and fees for one course and the students must pay any remaining amounts not covered by the scholarship.

A. Eligibility

  1. MLIS GPA of 3.0 or higher

  2. Preference will be given to current MLIS students who live in the following Georgia Counties: Lowndes, Brooks, Cook, Berrien, Lanier, Echols.

  3. If no qualified students from the preferred counties apply for the Baker Family scholarship then applications from students who reside elsewhere within the State of Georgia will be considered.

  4. Completion of at least 18 credits toward the MLIS degree prior to the date of application.  The 18 credits must be competed at the time of application. Completed Program of Study: a list of the courses you have completed (including grades earned) as well as the courses you plan to take.

    • At least 9 of the 18 credits must be in the MLIS program’s core courses
    • All 18 credits must be taken at Valdosta State University
    • No course grade lower than a 3.0 (B).

B. Submitting an application

  1. MLIS candidates meeting eligibility standards 1 through 5 may apply for the Baker Family Scholarship in the spring semester for use in the subsequent summer or fall semester.

  2. Deadline for submitting applications is February 12.

  3. Write a cover letter that includes your home address and county of residence, your VSU email address, and your 870 number.  In the body of your cover letter include a brief profile of your career goals and your progress towards those goals so far.

  4. Complete a Program of Study form with your MLIS Program advisor.  Your Program of Study form must include a list of the courses you have completed as well as those you are planning to take, grades for all the courses you have completed (at least six to meet the criteria for this scholarship application), and your signature. The blank Program of Study form is included on the MLIS Academic Advising webpage under Program of Study: http://www.valdosta.edu/colleges/education/master-of-library-and-information-science/student-resources/advising.php

  5. After review of your Program of Study your advisor will forward the completed package to the MLIS Department Head.

C. Selection

  1. The MLIS Awards and Scholarship Committee will review the application.

  2. The scholarship recipient will receive an award letter prior to the beginning of the semester in which the scholarship will be applied.

D. Disbursement

For the semester the scholarship is awarded, the award will be applied to the student’s tuition account prior to the fee payment deadline.  Any outstanding balance will be the responsibility of the student.

E. Submission instructions

Submit your application letter and completed Program of Study form to your MLIS advisor:

  • email is preferred
  • Fax: 229-259-5055 (to the attention of your advisor) 
If you prefer to mail in your application on paper use the following address:
Department of Library and Information Studies, Odum 4600
Valdosta State University
1500 North Patterson St.
Valdosta GA 31698
ATTN: “your advisor”