Binc Announces 2013 College Scholarship Winners

The Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation has announced 32 grant recipients for its 2013 Academic Scholarship Program. Nearly $100,000 in scholarship funding was awarded in grants of $5,000 and $2,500 to booksellers, former Borders employees, or their dependents.

“We are pleased to assist these students achieve their goals through higher education,” said Binc Foundation executive director Pam French. “We were impressed by the quality of candidates who applied and congratulate all the scholarship winners. We encourage all booksellers and their dependents to consider applying next spring.”

The scholarship winners were chosen from among 200 applicants by a third-party academic selection process conducted by Scholarship Management Services (SMS). Recipients had an average high school GPA of 3.90 or an average collegiate GPA of 3.73. Selection criteria included financial need, prior academic success, leadership capabilities, participation in school and community activities, work experience, and a statement of career aspiration.

Among the 32 scholarship recipients are eight students affiliated with ABA member bookstores:

• Robert Blades, a bookseller at Appalachian State University (ASU) Bookstore in Boone, North Carolina. Robert is an architecture and Spanish student at ASU.
• Melise Edwards-Welbourn, daughter of bookseller Valerie Welbourn from The Fountainhead Bookstore in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Melissa is studying biology and French at Appalachian State University.
• Madeleine Foley, bookseller from Boulder Book Store in Boulder, Colorado. Madeleine is enrolled at the University of Colorado/Boulder and is studying speech language hearing science.
• Karen Johansson, bookseller at Bookshop Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, California. Karen studies applied anthropology at San Jose State University.
• Whitney Malone, bookseller from Buttonwood Books and Toys in Cohasset, Massachusetts. Whitney is studying architecture at Syracuse University.
• Marjorie Muto, daughter of bookseller Mary Muto from Gallery Bookshop in Mendocino, California. Marjorie is enrolled at the University of San Francisco and is studying environmental studies.
• Amelia Palacios, a bookseller with Once Upon A Time Bookstore in Montrose, California. Amelia is studying sociology at Macalester College.
• Meghan Roegge, daughter of bookseller Brian Roegge from Chapter 2 Books in Hudson, Wisconsin. Meghan is pursuing an education degree at Hamline University.

Information about how booksellers can apply for the 2014 Scholarship Program will be released in Spring 2014 and will be posted on the foundation’s website.