The Link Foundation, in partnership with the Evans Library, funds the Link Scholars Program. Since its inception in 1999, the Link Scholars Program has provided stipends to a selection of uniquely qualified undergraduate and graduate students here at Florida Tech. Each year, talented students seek faculty nominations and propose projects aimed at enhancing the Library Information NetworK - the LINK - and improving global access to and awareness of LINK-based information resources and data in fields of interest to the Link Foundation.

Panels of Florida Tech professors, subject specialists, as well as communication and technical experts review competitive program proposals. Each stipend recipient works under the close guidance of an academic faculty member and a library faculty member to conduct high-level research, to design and develop proposed projects and outreach programs, and to extend access through advanced technologies, instructional sessions, demonstrations, and presentations to various audiences.

The Link Foundation has funded four stipends each year, while the Evans Library has funded additional stipends as their budget permits, mainly to provide technical support, to improve access, and to increase awareness of prior years' projects.

Link Scholars have completed a wide array of projects including highlighting significant resources for Aviation/Aerospace Engineering; providing resources in English, French and Spanish focused on related international, collaborative ventures in Oceanography; and using advanced technologies to bring visualizations to researchers in Marine Sciences. Project results may be viewed at http://www.lib.fit.edu/pubs/devprog/index.cfm.

The 2003-2004 Link Scholars' mission was to promote awareness of the tremendous wealth of knowledge in the resources added to the LINK by the accomplishments of prior Link Scholars and to tie them closer to faculty and student research and academic programs.

Interest in the Link Scholars Program has grown significantly. This is evidenced by the 100 percent increase in progressively sophisticated and innovative student proposal applications. Additionally, more faculty members, in various disciplines, are anxious to be involved as proposal reviewers and individual mentors. Creative marketing; valuable collaborative opportunities for students and faculty in mentoring and team building; and the impact of the program's outcomes on the university community not only at Florida Tech, but also throughout the world, are all key components in making this program a success.