2025 MAPS Scholarship Application

Each year MAPS awards $9000 in four scholarships to students in our community who appreciate our mission to help them follow their passions! A first prize of $3000 and a second prize of $1500 are available for full time college students majoring in each of the following studies: The Rider Scholarship for Japanese Language, Literature and Asian Studies and the M.A.P.S. scholarship for Illustration and Animation.

Applications for these scholarships are evaluated based upon the following criteria:

Academic Achievement – The candidate must have demonstrated exceptional academic ability.

Essay – A short essay in which you describe why you should be the recipient of a MAPS Scholarship and why you chose your course of study.

Faculty Recommendation – Provide one letter of recommendation from a faculty member familiar with your work.

Portfolio – For the Illustration & Animation Scholarship to showcase a small selection of your work.

Awards are not renewable; however, students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements. Awards are for undergraduate study only.

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be a current postsecondary undergraduate majoring in Japanese Language, Japanese Literature, and Asian Studies or Illustration and Animation.
• Plan to enroll in a full-time undergraduate student at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school.
• Have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent.

Children of employees and directors of Midwest Animation Promotion Society are ineligible.

Please see the More Details section for specific evaluation criteria for each scholarship.