Honoring the professionals who inspired the WLA's named scholarships
All funding is provided by the WLA Foundation through charitable contributions.
George R. Bauer
Bauer Continuing Education Scholarship
George Bauer was the Head of Reference Services at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay from 1969 to his death in 1986. He was born in Goodman, Wisconsin, in 1929, the son of John and Anne Bauer. He moved to Green Bay with his family in 1943. where he lived for 10 years. He graduated from West High School in 1947 and received a B.A. in English from St. Norbert College in DePere. He served a brief stint of high school teaching and then served in the Army during the Korean War. Upon returning from the War he attended school at UW-Madison where he received a Masters degree in English and Education. He then worked for Williams and Wilkins Medical Publishing Firm in Baltimore, MD. for about eight years. It was there he met and fell in love with Barbara Baer of Neenah. They married on June 25, 1960 and together had three children: Amy, David and Peter. In 1967 George returned to UW-Madison to work on second Master’s degree in Library Science, and received his degree in 1967. He worked as a reference librarian at the Steenbock Agricultural Library for two years. He return to Green Bay in 1969 to join the library staff at the newly formed University of Wisconsin-Green Bay campus where he served as Head of Reference until his death in 1986.
George was an avid reader and loved music. While he did not play an instrument he described himself as a “virtuoso listener.” He had an encyclopedic knowledge of music, especially Broadway musicals often humming or sining the appropriate lyrics while fetching a reference for a library user. John Piety says: " I still remember that time a student asked about Mairzy Doats, and got the entire verse from George while he was checking to confirm the original source of the song." He was a storehouse of miscellaneous facts and often shared them widely. He sent small items to the New Yorker magazine. They were often printed as filler as the bottom of a page—just a few lines, or a near forgotten verse, or an aphorism of one sort or another. John once asked George how often his missives were published. He said perhaps twice a year since Library School. He also enjoyed fishing, cooking, hiking, and gardening. He planted vegetables and often shared his harvest with the library staff. He was especially fond of his roses taking great care to protect them in the winter and nurture them in the spring to enjoy the beautiful colors and fragrance.
George was well loved by the University faculty and staff and by the community. He had compassion for students and enjoyed working in a collegial fashion. The faculty and staff respected him for his knowledge of literature and music as well as his knowledge of reference sources. His untimely death was a great loss to the University in general and the Library in particular. He loved books and learning—a true bibliophile.
He was an active member of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, president of the St. Bernard’s Board of Education, and Eucharist minister. He was a long time member of the Wisconsin Library Association and the American Rose Society.
He died on July 6, 1986 of a heart attack while doing one of his favorite activities: running with his dog. Some people said that the dog came home without him.
George's family decided that one way to remember him was to establish a continuing education scholarship fund in the Wisconsin Library Association, so that librarians from around Wisconsin could continue their professional development in their quest to provide quality service to users everywhere.
The scholarship is available to persons employed in a library or information agency in Wisconsin who plans to attend a continuing education program.
Vida Cummins Stanton
Vida Stanton Scholarship
This scholarship fund was endowed by Vida C. Stanton, retired Assistant Professor, University of Milwaukee School of Library and Information Science. Ms. Stanton served as President of the WLA in 1992. She has served on the WLA Foundation Board since 1998. She was elected WLA Foundation President in 1999 and served in that role through 2003.
To qualify for this scholarship, an applicant must be a Wisconsin resident who has been admitted to the UW-Milwaukee SLIS as a part-time or full-time student to pursue a Master’s degree in the library media or youth services program.
Gloria Hoegh
Scholarship for the Education of Rural Librarians
This annual award memorializes the exceptional library career of Gloria Hoegh. Ms. Hoegh joined the Oshkosh Public Library staff in 1958, and eventually became the first Coordinator of the Winnefox Library System in 1978. Throughout her long career, she had a special interest in rural and small public libraries.
This scholarship is available to any library employee working in a Wisconsin community with a current population of 5,000 or less who is planning to attend a workshop, conference, or a continuing education program within or outside Wisconsin. Applicants will be evaluated on the following criteria: need and desire for the award, employment responsibilities, and potential to contribute to rural librarianship.
Sally Davis
Sally Davis Scholarship
This annual award was endowed through a bequest from the estate of Sally Davis, a longtime WLA member and former librarian at UW-Madison School of Library and Information Studies. Ms. Davis was WLA President from 1969-70 when she was Director of School Libraries in Oconomowoc.
Wisconsin residents who have been admitted to the Master’s degree program at UW-Madison SLIS as a part-time or full-time student may apply.