Questions about the Application Process

Do I have to be a currently enrolled Kent State University student to apply?
Are only University Library student assistants eligible for a scholarship?
May Regional Campus students apply for the scholarship?
Is the scholarship open to graduate students?
Can I win the scholarship more than once?
Where do I submit my application materials?
When are the application materials due?
Are application submissions that have been written with the help of artificial intelligence acceptable?
May I have an extension to file my materials?
How do I demonstrate financial need? 

Questions about the Essay

What is the essay topic?  Will it be the same every year? 
How long should the essay be?  
How do I know how many words my essay contains? 
How do I save or convert my essay to PDF format?

Questions about the Awards Process

What happens to my application materials after submission?
Who decides who will win the scholarships?
Will I still be considered for the scholarship if I decline to be interviewed by the Committee?
How will I be notified if I win?
If I am awarded one of the scholarships, will someone from University Libraries contact me?

Scholarship Details

What is the amount of the scholarships?
Will receiving one of these scholarships have an impact on the rest of my financial aid package?
I win a scholarship, when will funds be available to me?

FOR FURTHER QUESTIONS

If my question has not been answered in this FAQ, whom may I contact for further information?

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS

1. Do I have to be a currently enrolled Kent State University student to apply?
Yes. You must also be enrolled for the following fall and spring semesters.

2. Are only University Library student assistants eligible for a scholarship?
No. While the scholarship started as one for University Libraries student assistants, it has been opened to any eligible Kent Campus undergraduate student.

3. May Regional Campus students apply for the scholarship?
No, only students enrolled at the Kent Campus are eligible to receive the scholarships.

5. Is the scholarship open to graduate students?
No, only sophomores, juniors or seniors are eligible. 

6. Can I win the scholarship more than once?
No, you can only be awarded the scholarship once while attending Kent State University.

7. Where do I submit my application materials?
Through the Scholarship Universe online portal. See "How to Apply" to the left.

8. When are the application materials due?
February 1, 2026 by 11:59 pm. The online application will close after this time and late applications will not be accepted.

9. Are application submissions that have been written with the help of artificial intelligence acceptable?
No. Essays submitted for consideration of this scholarship must be your own original work. Please visit University Libraries website for further guidance on academic integrity.

10. May I have an extension to file my materials?
All elements of the scholarship application, including a completed FAFSA, essay and statement of financial need, must be submitted by the due date and time. Late and incomplete submissions will not be considered.

11. How do I demonstrate financial need?
You must have a 2026-27 FAFSA on file with the KSU Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center to be eligible for this scholarship. In addition to the FAFSA form, you are also encouraged to provide a written personal statement of need with your application to provide further details to the committee. Please do not include the personal statement of need in the text of your essay. All financial information will be considered confidential. 

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ESSAY

12. What is the essay topic?  
This year’s topic is: How has University Libraries contributed to your success as a student?
Successful essays will be focused, thoughtful and free from grammatical and spelling errors. The winning essays may be published, so please do not include sensitive personal information in your essay.

13. How long should the essay be?  
Essays must be at least 600 but no more than 1,000 words.

14. How do I know how many words my essay contains? 
Click here for steps.

15. How do I save or convert my essay to PDF format?

• Some browsers have a built-in function during the "Print" process where you can choose to instead "Save as PDF."

• All major word processing software has a function in the "Save As..." options to save as PDF format instead of its own document format. Remember to first save as a regular document in case you need to make edits later. 

• Other browsers and operating systems have small programs, extensions or add-ons you can install to have a similar function as above. University Libraries cannot endorse or recommend any specific software, so please be careful when installing anything you don't trust.

• You may also print out a physical copy of any document and bring it to the Library, where a Technology Services staff person can help you scan and convert it to PDF format.  

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AWARDS PROCESS

16. What happens to my application materials after submission?
All eligible application materials, including the essay, will be distributed to the University Libraries Scholarship Committee for consideration and evaluation. The committee may be made up of representatives from University Libraries' faculty and staff, the Faculty Senate Library Advisory Committee and the University Libraries Student Advisory Council. 

17. Who decides who will win the scholarships?
Winning scholarship recipients are determined by the University Libraries Scholarship Committee.

18. Will I still be considered for the scholarship if I decline to be interviewed by the Committee? 
No. Scholarship finalists may be asked to be available for a short, virtual interview. Students who decline this interview will not be considered as eligible to receive the scholarship.

19. How will I be notified if I win?
The winners will be notified through Scholarship Universe in April 2026. Award recipients will be formally announced at the University Libraries Student Appreciation Event in Spring Semester.

20. If I am awarded one of the scholarships, will someone from University Libraries contact me?   
Yes. Each scholarship recipient will be contacted by the Communications Department to help University Libraries further the mission of providing financial support to students by promoting the scholarship to donors and to other student applicants.

SCHOLARSHIP DETAILS

21. What is the amount of the scholarships?
Each recipient of University Libraries scholarship is awarded $1,000 to be used for tuition, academic books and supplies, fees, commuting expenses and other expenses that will alleviate the financial weight of paying for college. 

22. Will receiving one of these scholarships have an impact on the rest of my financial aid package?
This may vary on a case-by-case basis, so please contact the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center for information and guidance on this matter.

23. If I win a scholarship, when will funds be available to me?
Half of the scholarship funds will be applied to the winning students' bursar account in Fall Semester 2024 and the other half will be applied in Spring Semester 2025. 

FOR FURTHER QUESTIONS

24. If my question has not been answered in this FAQ, whom may I contact for further information?
Please contact Cynthia Williams in the Library Communications Office at cdwillia [at] kent.edu (subject: University%20Libraries%20Student%20Scholarships) .