Annually, the Kansas/Missouri Region of SCBWI offers an opportunity to apply for mentorships and scholarships. These are only available to SCBWI members (published or pre-published–see details below) who live in Kansas or Missouri. While creators may apply for all scholarship and mentorship opportunities, if the same person wins more than one contest, the winner will be asked to select their top choice ONLY. Please note: Scholarship recipients are not eligible for future scholarships.
Promising Picture Book Scholarship – Kelly Clasen
Novel Scholarship – Bradley Johnson
Illustration Scholarship – Mike Hays
Middle of the Map Cover Art Contest Winner – Nicole Stephens
2024 Illustration Mentorship winner - Jessica Blackburn
2024 MG Writing Mentorship winner - William Mockry
Applications open August 1 and close September 1. (Note: Dates subject to change.)
This mentorship is offered to acknowledge pre-published regional illustrators’ exceptional illustrations and present an opportunity to receive feedback from a published illustrator on a current work in progress.
What can the winner can expect? The mentor will coordinate directly with the chosen mentee regarding how many pieces will be critiqued, how many revisions will be allowed, and whether meetings will be online, in person, by email, or phone.
Click here for details on the 2024 KSMO Illustrator Mentorship with Daniel Miyares!
Applications open August 1 and close September 1. (Note: Dates subject to change.)
This mentorship is offered to acknowledge pre-published regional authors’ exceptional writing and present an opportunity to receive feedback from a published author on a current work in progress. This will rotate annually featuring YA, MG, PB, and Non-fiction manuscripts in different years.
What can the winner expect? One full read of the winning manuscript with notes/feedback. Following the reading, the mentor and mentee will meet in an agreed upon platform which could include online, by phone, email, or in-person (up to but could be less than, three times before the year is over) to discuss questions and revisions.
Click here for details with 2024 KSMO MG Writing Mentor Lisa Harkrader!
Regional members submit an original piece of artwork for use by Kansas/Missouri SCBWI for the annual fall conference. The winner’s artwork will be featured at the Kansas/Missouri SCBWI Middle of the Map Conference in November and will be displayed on the Kansas/Missouri SCBWI web site (https://www.scbwi.org/regions/ksmo), all promotional materials, and any regional social media pages. (NOTE: The illustrator retains ownership of the illustration.)
Applications open between June 15 and June 30, 2023. The winner receives free admission to the fall conference (critique not included).
Click here for details.
Scholarship submissions for the fall 2022 Middle of the Map scholarships were accepted between July 1 - July 15, 2023. Please click on the individual scholarships below for more details.
Opportunities include:
Promising Picture Book Scholarship
SCBWI Kansas/Missouri offers a scholarship to our fall conference each year (generally held in early November) for a promising picture book manuscript by an author not previously published by a PAL Publisher in the picture book format. The scholarship includes conference registration (critique not included).
Applications open between July 1 - July 15, 2023. A panel of authors will select the winner. SCBWI Kansas/Missouri will notify the winner in early August before registration opens for the conference. Please note: Scholarship recipients are not eligible for future scholarships.
Click here for details.
Clare Vanderpool Promising Novel Scholarship
SCBWI Kansas/Missouri offers a scholarship to our fall conference each year (generally held in early November) to a MG or YA author novel (not previously published by a PAL publisher for MG or YA) in honor of the 2011 Newbery winner and SCBWI Kansas member, Clare Vanderpool. The scholarship includes conference registration (critique not included).
Applications open between July 1 - July 15, 2023. A panel of authors will select the winner. SCBWI Kansas/Missouri will notify the winner in early August before registration opens for the conference. Please note: Scholarship recipients are not eligible for future scholarships.
Click here for details.
SCBWI Kansas/Missouri offers a scholarship to our fall conference each year (generally held in early November) for a promising illustrator published or pre-published. The scholarship includes conference registration (critique not included).
Applications open between July 1 - July 15, 2023. A committee of illustrators will select the winner. SCBWI Kansas/Missouri will notify the winner in early August before registration opens for the conference. Please note: Scholarship recipients are not eligible for future scholarships.
Click here for details.