Mariann Bishop Memorial Professional Development Grant

Grant Details:

Amount

One grant of $500 total.

Intent

The goal of this grant program is to encourage members to take advantage of educational opportunities that may be beyond their own or their employers' budgets. A secondary goal is to encourage the sharing of information with chapter members.

Selection Process

The grant recipient will be chosen from among submitted applications by random drawing before an Apra PA board meeting, with the members voting to approve the winner.

Grant recipients will be asked to share their professional development experience with Apra PA members at the next chapter conference and/or through an article for the chapter e-newsletter.

Policies

Apra PA will submit a fee payment, not to exceed $500, directly to the organization sponsoring the professional meeting, conference, etc. The recipient is responsible for the balance of expenses associated with the event. Should the recipient be unable to use the award within the 12 months, the award may be offered to an alternative recipient.

Apra Pennsylvania officers are not eligible to receive the grant during their board term. Apra PA members who have received a grant or ApraPD scholarship from Apra PA within the 24 months preceding Apra PA’s Annual Fall Conference are ineligible to receive the grant. All other Apra PA members with current, paid status are eligible to receive the grant. The recipient must use the grant within 12 months of award selection. The recipient is required to share how they used the grant with Apra PA constituents. They may do so through a presentation at a chapter conference or in an article submitted before the chapter's next scheduled annual conference.

About Mariann Bishop

The grant is named in memory of Mariann Bishop, a long-time friend, colleague and dedicated member of Apra PA since its founding as PREP/APRA. We are extremely grateful for Mariann’s contribution to our organization, from her work as Membership Director, to her key role in establishing the chapter’s presence on the Internet. Simply put, her work was critical in making the chapter the thriving organization it is today. Mariann worked for Millersville University for more than 20 years, retiring in 2006 from the Office of Research and Data Management. She died on December 14, 2007.

History

In Fall 2007, APRA-PA began awarding Professional Development Grants valued at up to $350 to current Apra PA members at the Annual Fall Conference. The grants may be used to attend an Apra PA-approved conference. At times, we have selected the recipient randomly from all applications received. At other times, a selection committee has chosen a recipient based on the applicant's planned use of funds.