<div dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr" style="font-size:12.8px;line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"><span style="font-size:12.8px"><b>Apply for ISLMA professional development grants and scholarships today! </b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size:12.8px;line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size:12.8px;line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">If you are interested in attending the ISLMA conference in the fall or other professional development opportunities, consider applying for the <b>McCusker Professional Development Grant</b>. If you are working on your library science endorsement, consider applying for the <b>Baker </b>or <b>Maynard Scholarships</b>. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size:12.8px;line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size:12.8px;line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"><b>Application instructions and forms are attached to this email</b></span><span style="font-family:arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"><b>.</b> Applications and supporting materials must be submitted electronically to <a href="mailto:grants-awards@islma.org" target="_blank">grants-awards@islma.org</a> by 1<b>1:59 PM on </b><span class="gmail-m_8782096260005837613gmail-m_-3812165422786576563gmail-m_1004033888316558014m_-1612723823560392959gmail-m_-3332647888151812929gmail-aBn" style=""><span class="gmail-m_8782096260005837613gmail-m_-3812165422786576563gmail-m_1004033888316558014m_-1612723823560392959gmail-m_-3332647888151812929gmail-aQJ" style=""><span class="gmail-m_8782096260005837613gmail-m_-3812165422786576563gmail-aBn" style=""><span class="gmail-m_8782096260005837613gmail-m_-3812165422786576563gmail-aQJ" style=""><span class="gmail-m_8782096260005837613gmail-aBn" style=""><span class="gmail-m_8782096260005837613gmail-aQJ" style=""><b>February 1st</b></span></span></span></span></span></span>. If you have questions, please direct them to: <a href="mailto:grants-awards@islma.org" target="_blank">grants-awards@islma.org</a></span></p><div dir="ltr" style="font-size:12.8px;line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br></div><p dir="ltr" style="font-size:12.8px;line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"></span></p><hr style="font-size:12.8px"><p style="font-size:12.8px"></p><div dir="ltr" style="font-size:12.8px;line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br></div><p dir="ltr" style="font-size:12.8px;line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">The</span><span style="font-family:arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"> ISLMA Lauretta McCusker, O.P., D.L.S. Professional Development Grant</span><span style="font-family:arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"> is designed to provide financial assistance to ISLMA members who wish to participate in </span><span style="font-family:arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"><font color="#ff0000">professional workshops, conferences and coursework related to the school library media profession</font></span><span style="font-family:arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"> each year. A total of </span><span style="font-family:arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"><font color="#ff0000">$3000 in McCusker Professional Development Grants will be awarded each year</font></span><span style="font-family:arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">. <b>See the attachment below for the McCusker Professional Development Grant application.</b></span></p><div dir="ltr" style="font-size:12.8px;line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br></div><p dir="ltr" style="font-size:12.8px;line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">The </span><span style="font-family:arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Marilyn Kay Maynard ISLMA Scholarship </span><span style="font-family:arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">was created and awarded in 2012 to honor the 26 years that Kay Maynard held the position of Executive Secretary in ISLMA. Kay was one of the original Founders of ISLMA and served as the first ISLMA President in 1988-89. In honor of Kay, </span><span style="font-family:arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"><font color="#ff0000">3 scholarships per year will be awarded up to $1000.00 for students who wish to gain licensure to work in Illinois schools as a school librarian</font></span><span style="font-family:arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">. </span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial;font-size:12.8px;white-space:pre-wrap"><b>See the attachment below for the Maynard Scholarship application.</b></span></p><div dir="ltr" style="font-size:12.8px;line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br></div><p dir="ltr" style="font-size:12.8px;line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">The </span><span style="font-family:arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">Esther Baker ISLMA Scholarship</span><span style="font-family:arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"> was created in 2015 in memory of Esther Baker who passed away in 2014. Esther was one of the original Founders of ISLMA and served as the Revisionist currently called Bylaws and Policy Function Representative since the beginning. In honor of Esther, </span><span style="font-family:arial;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent"><font color="#ff0000">one scholarship per year will be awarded up to $1000.00 for tuition related to course work leading to licensure each year</font></span><span style="font-family:arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;background-color:transparent">. </span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial;font-size:12.8px;white-space:pre-wrap"><b>See the attachment below for the Baker Scholarship application.</b></span></p><div style="font-size:12.8px"><br></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><span style="font-size:12.8px;line-height:19.32px">Please direct any questions to </span><a href="mailto:grants-awards@islma.org" target="_blank" style="font-size:12.8px;line-height:19.32px">grants-awards@islma.org</a><span style="font-size:12.8px;line-height:19.32px">.</span></div></div>