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Scholarship Program

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$1000 Scholarship in Book Production and Publishing

Eligible scholarship applicants are students currently enrolled at a Western college, university, or technical school* with the intent to pursue a career in the field of book production or publishing. Students must have a grade point average of "C" or better to qualify. The application for a scholarship must be accompanied by a letter from a faculty member confirming student eligibility and a student book project. The deadline for 2008 submission is May 5, 2008. Winners will be announced at the Annual Scholarship Fundraiser event.

*School must be located in, or do business in, one of the 13 Western states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

INSTRUCTORS and STUDENTS: Download the student application

Bookbuilders West, a nonprofit association founded in San Francisco in 1969, promotes and supports book publishing in the thirteen Western states. The organization continues to be a valuable educational and professional resource for book publishers throughout the West. Its various dinner meetings, educational seminars, and social events provide a forum for members to meet and share experiences. Bookbuilders West sponsors a wide variety of education programs designed to inform members about advances in materials and processes, investigate technological progress, discuss aesthetic concerns, and find solutions to problems. Bookbuilders West fosters publishing excellence and public recognition through an annual Book Show and encourages qualified publishing and graphic art students in Western colleges through its annual scholarship program.

Scholarship Program Project Description

Purpose 
Each year, Bookbuilders West awards one or more scholarships to students enrolled in a college, university, or technical school in the Western States. Bookbuilders West focuses on the design, typography, production, and manufacture of books. Therefore, the organization awards the scholarships on the basis of book design projects. Students enrolled in graphic design courses in which the book component includes a design project submit most of the scholarship applications. A committee of Bookbuilders members judges the submissions each May, and the winners are announced at the Bookbuilders West June meeting.

Project Description 
Students are either assigned book titles by their course professor or allowed to select a book for which a new design will be created. The projects are judged in terms of creativity, meeting defined design objectives, and presentation of material. In addition to identifying and describing the subject book, the project submission should include the following items:

1. A brief summary of the concept of the book selected for design and production. For example, a cookbook would have a different concept than a mystery book or a book of poetry.
2. A definition of design objective for the cover, interior, and any special features, such as a slipcase.
3. Written design specifications for the cover, title page, table of contents, sample chapter opening, and interior text pages. Design specifications for illustrations and other artwork.
4. A dummy that includes sample pages for the items listed above. Entries typically include the title page, table of contents, and four-to-eight text pages so that all elements in the design are represented.
5. Many submissions include hand binding of the sample pages, slipcases, and other packaging. This is not required, but presentation of the project is an important element considered in judging.

Click here for a list of 2007 Scholarship winners and their projects

For additional information, contact the Scholarship Committee Chair, Pam Augspurger at 510-642-5395.