Saliamonas Banaitis Scholarship Competition Announced
On the occasion of February 16th, the Restoration of the State of Lithuania, Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) announces the Saliamonas Banaitis Scholarship competition. S. Banaitis (1866–1933) was a public and state figure of Independent Lithuania, a member of the Council of Lithuania, a signatory of the Act of Independence of the Republic of Lithuania, and a former VMU student. Applications for the scholarship are open until another significant day for Lithuania—March 11th (inclusive), the Day of Restoration of Independence of Lithuania.
Saliamonas Banaitis scholarship was established at the University in 2016 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the restoration of Lithuanian statehood by his grandchildren living in Canada. The scholarship aims to support and encourage the most talented students at the University conducting research related to personalities, organizations, events, or processes of the First Independent Republic of Lithuania (1918-1940), which in one way or another are connected with the activities and environment of the signatory of the Act, S. Banaitis.
In this context, a thematic competition is being launched for students at all levels who are writing a thesis or carrying out research on one or more of the themes indicated by the founder of the scholarship:
- History of Lithuania relating to the activities, professional interests, or achievements of Saliamonas Banaitis, his family, or relatives.
- Lithuanian culture (art) related to the activities, professional interests, or achievements of S. Banaitis, his family, or relatives.
- transportation of goods or people by land and water (priority is given if there is any connection with S. Banaitis, his family, or relatives).
- communication, publishing, and dissemination (priority is given if there is any connection with S. Banaitis, his family, or relatives).
- the family economy and its development (priority is given if there is any connection with S. Banaitis, his family, or relatives).
- amateur, village (barn) theatre or folk music (priority is given if there is any connection with S. Banaitis, his family, or relatives).
The scholarship in the name of S. Banaitis, signatory of the Act of Independence of the Republic of Lithuania, with a preliminary amount of ~ 2,200 EUR (up to half of the amount of the scholarship, i.e. ~ 1,100 EUR if the scholarship is awarded to two persons), will be given to the student(s) who is/are most relevant to the field of study, and who is/are intending to have his/her/their research published.
The decision to award the scholarship is made by the Lithuanian Canadian Foundation (LCF), with which VMU has concluded a cooperation agreement, according to which the nominal S. Banaitis Scholarship is awarded to the best students at the University whose studies and/or research interest is related to the history, culture, and achievements of Lithuania. Priority is given to students who are interested in the activities, professional interests, or achievements of Saliamonas Banaitis, his family, or relatives, thus encouraging students to achieve professional and academic excellence.
Students who are willing to apply for S. Banaitis scholarship must complete an electronic application form in Student portal until March 11th. How to do this?
- log in to the VMU Student portal using your personal login provided by the University.
- select the Applications in the menu box and click on the Requests.
- select the application category Finances and Scholarships and other support, click Nominal scholarship (form F-005), complete the form, justifying the area of study or research interest in the priority list of topics above and indicating its relevance: identification of work in progress, etc. and submit it.
The candidate(s) selected by the Foundation’s founder will be personally informed by the end of May of the conditions and deadlines for awarding the scholarship.
For more information on the scholarship and its award, please contact:
