91´«Ã½

CHICAGO - The 91´«Ã½'s (91´«Ã½) Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services awarded Spectrum Scholarships to 70 exceptional students pursuing graduate degrees in library and information studies in 2024. Due to generous donations from sponsors, 91´«Ã½ groups, and community members, 91´«Ã½ has awarded more than 1,600 Spectrum Scholarships since 1997.

The Spectrum Scholarship Program actively recruits and provides scholarships to American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Middle Eastern and North African, and/or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students.

The Spectrum program funds scholarships through its endowment and the generous contributions of individuals and organizations whose donations support named scholarships in the Spectrum Family of Funds. For 2024-2025, scholarships have been awarded in honor of the following supporters: Leo Albert, the Calloway family, Louise Giles, William R. Gordon, Satia Marshall Orange, Miriam Tuliao, and Dr. Betty J. Turock.

The 2024-2025 Endowment Scholars are as follows:

• Kizuwanda Raines, Clarion University of Pennsylvania (Leo Albert Scholar)
• Bethany Hill, University of Tennessee (Calloway Family Scholar)
• Elizabeth Tibebu, University of Maryland (Louise Giles Scholar)
• Alayna Sofia Jasso, Catholic University of America (William R. Gordon Scholar)
• Varinthorn Punakananda Nakkeow, San Jose State University (Satia Marshall Orange Scholar)
• Nyakundi James Nyambane, Drexel University (Satia Marshall Orange Scholar)
• Bryn Shaffer, University of British Columbia (Miriam Tuliao Scholar)
• Euncho Ko, University of Alberta (Dr. Betty J. Turock Scholar)

, part of Clarivate, continues its generous support of the Spectrum Scholarship Program. Since 2001, ProQuest, part of Clarivate, has funded more than 200 Spectrum Scholars through sponsorship of the Scholarship Bash and now through their direct support of eight scholarships a year including one dedicated in memory of Ron Clowney, a former ProQuest executive. This year’s ProQuest, part of Clarivate Scholars are:

• Sandra Martinez, University of Washington
• Amaobi Kenechi Otiji, Rutgers University
• Kaylee Danielle Paul, Simmons University
• Ina Marie Samuel, San Jose State University
• Jennie Margaret To, University of Washington
• Daniel Vesurai, Valdosta State University
• Lia Warner, San Jose State University
• Phoebe Yip, San Jose State University

is sponsoring two Spectrum Scholars and is a new sponsor of the Spectrum Scholarship Program as of 2022. This year’s Elsevier scholars are:

• Sarah Dababneh, University of Michigan
• Indira Nauth, San Jose State University

The & (MLA/NLM) support two scholarships annually. The MLA/NLM Spectrum Scholarships support students with an interest in the field of medical or health sciences librarianship. This year’s MLA/NLM scholars are:

• Karla Barreiro, San Jose State University
• Sarah A. Meihui Bernstein, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill

The (NCNMLG) is sponsoring a 2024 Spectrum Scholarship to support a student interested in a career in health sciences librarianship. This year’s NCNMLG scholar is:

• Amy Lim, University of Alberta

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) established the ALSC Spectrum Scholarship through funding from the Frederic G. Melcher Endowment in 2010. Three ALSC Spectrum Scholars interested in library service to children are designated annually. Ellen Fader, past-president of ALSC has generously donated to the Spectrum Scholarship Program. Her support has provided follow-up grants for Spectrum Scholar alumni to accelerate their path toward graduation and an annual Spectrum Scholarship in her name since 2014. This year’s ALSC scholars are:

• Ana Lizeth Balen, San Jose State University
• Reyna Campuzano Scarfo, San Jose State University
• Kate Uesugi, San Jose State University
• Vanessa Lizette Rodrigson, San Jose State University

The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) is supporting two 2024 Spectrum Scholars pursuing a career in academic and research libraries. This year’s ACRL scholars are:

• Maria Guadalupe Partida, University of Texas - Austin
• Grace J. Park, University of British Columbia

Thanks to the generosity of sponsor , Core, a division of the 91´«Ã½, is supporting a 2024 Spectrum Scholar with a demonstrated interest in library technology. OCLC has supported a LITA/Core scholarship since 1991. This year’s OCLC Core scholar is:

• Armaan Singh Kalkat, University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign

The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) annually funds two Spectrum Scholars pursuing a career in young adult librarianship or secondary school librarianship. This year’s YALSA scholars are:

• Tamika Lynn Lax, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis
• Ian Anthony Wheeler, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill

The Rainbow Round Table (RRT) has committed to sponsoring a 2024 Spectrum Scholar who expresses commitment to serving the information needs of the LGBTQIA+ professional library community, and the LGBTQIA+ information and access needs of individuals at large. This year’s RRT scholar is:

• De'Ivyion Emonne Drew, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill

The Spectrum Scholarship Program is additionally grateful to Library Associations across the country which offer support to Spectrum Scholars with additional grant funding, registration to conferences, inclusion in publications, and much more.

The (ILA) has committed to the support of Spectrum Scholars in Illinois since 2003 through the establishment of the Sylvia Murphy Williams Award. The award offers registration to the ILA conference of the scholar’s year, recognition at 91´«Ã½ Annual Conference, and article feature in an ILA publication. The 2024-2025 ILA Scholars are:

• Citlalli Cardenas, Dominican University
• Bethany Hill, University of Tennessee
• Leslie Lopez, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Katherine Mendoza-Gonzalez, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Anita Sharma, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Hilda Vásquez Medina, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Daniel Vesurai, Valdosta State University

The (NELA) offers a supplemental grant of up to $1,000 for Spectrum Scholars residing in New England. This year’s NELA scholar is:

• Kaylee Danielle Paul, Simmons University
• Kai Miyabayashi McGinn, Simmons University
• Annabelle Hiu Ying Ho, Valdosta State University
• Leia Carman Barrow, Simmons University
• Mateo Leon Caballero, University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign
• Nebraska Chatham, Simmons University

The Spectrum Scholarship Program is additional grateful to the eight ODLOS affiliate organizations which offer complimentary membership to their organization for Spectrum Scholars for the duration of their scholarship year. Due to ongoing support from the National Association of Librarians of Color (NALCo), and Outreach affiliate groups, Spectrum Scholars are offered a year of membership to the (AILA), (AP91´«Ã½), (BC91´«Ã½), (C91´«Ã½), : The National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking, (ARSL), and (ABOS).

To learn more about the Spectrum Scholarship Program, please contact 91´«Ã½’s Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services at spectrum@ala.org or visit . The application period for 2024 Spectrum Scholarships is open until March 1, 2024.

About the 91´«Ã½
The 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the 91´«Ã½ has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government, and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library's role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit.