BIS Scholarship Opportunities

These Scholarships are open to all Bachelor of Individualized Study students. 

• Jack Fahey Giving Back Scholarship

  • This scholarship is open to currently enrolled BIS students and $1,000.00 will be awarded every fall, spring and summer. 
  • Applicants must complete the online application and submit an essay. Please contact BIS@gmu.edu for details. 
  • To be eligible students must meet these requirements:
    • Have a 3.0 GPA
    • Have financial need
    • Made progress toward degree completion
    • Completed BIS 300
    • Enrolled in current semester

     

                      

• Linda Hemm Scholarship

  • This scholarship is open to currently enrolled BIS students who are a junior or senior. Recipients qualify on basis of academic merit. 
  • Must submit a 250-500 word essay and recommendation letter from a Mason faculty member.
  • Completed BIS 300
  • $1,000.00 award
  • Email BIS@gmu.edu for details

• BIS Scholarship Endowment Fund

  • $500-$1000 award to BIS students each year
  • Students may apply through the Financial Aid Office.
  • Completed BIS 300
  • Scholarship applications are reviewed through the combined efforts of the BIS director, advising staff and with the support of the BIS Scholarship founder, Karole McKalip.

Karole McKalip is a Mason alumna from the College of Education, former GMU Director of Academic Advising and BIS Academic Advisor. She and her husband, Diehl McKalip, made it possible in 2004 to create a BIS Scholarship Endowment Fund. 

Karole graduated in 1981 with a Master of Education Degree in Counseling and Development. She worked part-time as an advisor in the Department of Academic Advising while doing her graduate work. In 1985, she began working full-time and became the Assistant Director in the Academic Advising and Orientation program office. Two years later, she became Director of Academic Advising and Orientation and served as Director until 1997 when she retired.

Shortly after “retiring,” Karole came back to Mason and joined the BIS department as a part-time academic advisor. She was very interested in working with adult students whom she found to be extremely committed and dedicated to finishing their degrees. She enjoyed working with the BIS staff and believed BIS was a strong academic program, often a “breeding ground” for new majors such as the MA in Telecommunications. Karole states that the BIS program is “cutting edge” not only for the creation of new majors but for new ways to pursue degree completion.  Following her retirement as an academic advisor for the BIS program in 2002, Karole contacted the Development Office at Mason regarding the possibility of a BIS scholarship from donations made by students and alumni. She was told there was not enough money to sustain a yearly scholarship. It was at this time that she and her husband donated the money necessary to create a scholarship endowment fund. Since 2004, a yearly BIS scholarship has been awarded. Since 2004, Karole and her husband have continued to contribute to the fund as well as to the Mason library. We extend a hearty thanks to both Karole and Deihl McKalip for their service and generosity!

Additional Scholarships offered through the School of Integrative Studies can be found here.