Kent District Library Community Impact Scholarship
Are you a high-school senior, a college student, or an adult returning to school or entering the trade professions?
Do you believe in the power of service, collaboration, and innovation to make your community stronger?
At Kent District Library, we’re proud to have been honored with the 2023 Jerry Kline Community Impact Prize for our commitment to deep civic engagement and transformational library service. Now, we are reinvesting in our community with the KDL Community Impact Scholarship.
We’re seeking candidates who demonstrate these qualities inspired by the Jerry Kline award:
- Engagement with others and partnership in service
- Inclusive mindset and a commitment to broad community interests
- Innovation: original thinking and creative approaches to challenges
- Leadership rooted in empathy, resilience, and lifelong learning
- A meaningful relationship with their library and its mission
Up to three scholarships of $5,000 each will be awarded to community-minded learners who share our vision for building a stronger, more connected Kent County.
Eligibility
To apply, you must:
- Live within the Kent District Library service area and provide a valid KDL library card.
- Be a high school senior planning to attend college or trade school, or an adult of any age returning to school.
- Not be a KDL employee, KDL Board of Trustees member, or the immediate family of either.
- Submit your completed application between December 1 and March 1.
How to Apply
- Create a free Submittable account.
Use your email address and password to access the KDL Community Impact Scholarship application form.
- Complete the online application.
The form includes basic information, your academic background, and short essay responses to selected prompts. You can save progress and return anytime before the deadline.
- Upload optional supporting materials.
Strengthen your application with letters of recommendation or evidence of community involvement or innovation. Uploads may be in PDF, JPEG, or PNG format.
Review and Selection
After the March 1 deadline, all eligible applications will be reviewed by the KDL Board of Trustees. Each submission is evaluated anonymously and fairly, with reviewers considering only the content of the application.
Final recommendations made in May and winners will be awarded at the June KDL Board of Trustees Meeting.
Applications open December 1 through March 1.
Meet Past Winners
“Receiving this scholarship is an incredible blessing. It lifts part of the financial burden and makes it possible for me to continue pursuing my calling with ease and peace of mind. I’m passionate about helping others feel seen, supported and valued, and I look forward to using my education to make a meaningful impact in people’s lives.” - Jamie Elgrably 2025 Winner
“It means so much that this money is helping my education, of course, but it means even more that it’s coming from my community library,” - Ania Fleszar 2025 Winner