For immediate release | June 30, 2025
Colton D. Whelpton Selected as the 2025 Tony B. Leisner Scholarship Recipient

The American Library Association (ALA) has selected Colton D. Whelpton of Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada) as the recipient of the 2025 Tony B. Leisner Scholarship.
The $3,000 scholarship, named for an active ALA member and former member of the ALA Council, is awarded to a library support staff member pursuing a master’s degree in library and information studies. The scholarship was established with funds donated by Leisner.
Whelpton says his ”journey into librarianship began unexpectedly as a student employee at Regent College (Canada). What started as a practical way to support his studies evolved into a deep interest in library service that blended with his long-time love of community building.”
Through his experience of working in an academic library, Whelpton discovered a “growing need to prioritize the representation of diverse perspectives in collections and services.” This understanding and desire to better serve his community is what inspired Whelpton to pursue his MLIS degree.
Whelpton’s vision for library work extends beyond academic settings. A previous experience as a storyteller at a public library “revealed the joy of connecting with young readers and the value of participatory storytelling practices” for Whelpton. It also sparked his interest in the desire to eventually transition to children’s services in public libraries.
Through his MLIS studies, Whelpton hopes to “deepen his understanding of how libraries can better serve underrepresented communities and adapt to evolving user needs.” He is committed to “making libraries more accessible, inclusive, and responsive to community needs.”
Currently, Whelpton works as a library services manager at Regent College.
Whelpton attends the University of Alberta (Canada).
For information on the ALA Scholarship program, visit our scholarship page.
The ALA Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment (HRDR) manages the ALA Scholarship Clearinghouse.
Contact:
Kimberly L. Redd, MSHTM
Program Manager, Certification & Talent Development
Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment (HRDR)
KLRedd@ala.org800.545.2433 ext. 4279