Gwendolyn S. Cruzat MLA Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Medical Library Association
Overview
The Medical Library Association awards an annual scholarship to support students who demonstrate excellence and potential in health sciences librarianship. The scholarship is intended to encourage and enable students pursuing careers in medical and health sciences libraries. Awards are competitive and intended to recognize academic promise and professional commitment.
Description: An MLA-administered scholarship for students preparing for careers in health sciences librarianship.
- Supports students entering health sciences librarianship
- Administered annually by the Medical Library Association
- Competitive and merit-based
Eligibility
The scholarship has specific enrollment and residency requirements. Applicants must be enrolled in or entering an ALA-accredited master's program in library science, and academic progress is measured at the time the scholarship is granted. The award is restricted to citizens or permanent residents of the United States or Canada, and previous MLA student scholarship recipients are not eligible to reapply.
Eligibility: Applicants must be entering or enrolled in an ALA-accredited graduate library program, be a U.S. or Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and must not have previously received an MLA student scholarship.
- Must be entering or enrolled in an ALA-accredited master's program
- U.S. or Canadian citizen or permanent resident required
- Past MLA student scholarship recipients are ineligible
Award Details
The scholarship provides financial support to a student selected annually by MLA. The award amount is set to assist with educational expenses and is granted on a yearly basis. Recipients are limited to receiving one MLA scholarship in a given year.
Award Value: Up to $2,500 awarded annually to a selected student.
- Maximum award of $2,500
- Granted annually
- Recipients may receive only one MLA scholarship per year
Application & Evaluation
Applications are reviewed and scored by the Scholarship Jury based on written responses. The jury evaluates the applicant's statement about the scholarship's importance, career and academic objectives with supporting activities, and the impact of the applicant's contributions on their communities. The scholarship is granted in March, and eligibility is measured at that time.
Application Timeline: The scholarship is granted in March; applicants should ensure their academic standing meets eligibility at that time.
Evaluation Criteria: Applicants are scored on written responses to specific questions about goals, plans, and community impact.
- Assessment based on written application responses
- Granting occurs in March; eligibility is evaluated at that point
- Selection made by the Scholarship Jury
- What would receiving an MLA scholarship mean to you?
- What are your career and/or academic objectives and how do you plan to achieve them?
- How have your activities and achievements impacted the communities you serve, and how have they affected you personally?
History of the Award
In 2023 the scholarship was renamed to honor Dr. Gwendolyn Cruzat, AHIP, FMLA, recognizing her long-standing service and leadership in the library profession. Dr. Cruzat is noted as a global leader and among the few librarians of color recognized with the FMLA distinction. The renaming acknowledges her contributions and legacy within the Medical Library Association and the broader profession.
History of the Award: Renamed in 2023 to the Dr. Gwendolyn Cruzat scholarship in recognition of her leadership and service.
- Renamed in 2023 to honor Dr. Gwendolyn Cruzat
- Recognizes Cruzat's leadership and professional contributions
- Highlights MLA's commitment to honoring influential members of the field