Patricia Concepcion Selected as the 2021 Christopher Hoy/ERT Scholarship Recipient

The American Library Association (ALA) has selected Patricia Concepcion of Louisville, Kentucky as the 2021 Christopher Hoy/ERT Scholarship recipient.

The scholarship was named for a long-time ALA staff member who directed the ALA Conference Services Office for more than 20 years. This scholarship fund was established with donations from Christopher J. Hoy and the Exhibits Round Table (ERT) to honor his memory. The $5,000 scholarship is awarded to a person pursuing a master's degree in library and information studies.

Concepcion currently works as a high school English teacher. She says her first experience with a library was with a bookmobile. She later realized that the bookmobile provided more than just books. She believes it “provided accessibility, equity, and an opportunity to serve anyone who needed it.” This belief is “indicative of her beliefs as an educator and is emblematic of her career goals in librarianship.” Concepcion says that she has dedicated her career to public service. She was “compelled to pursue a career in education because she recognized the impact that education and knowledge have in disrupting inequitable, social structures.” She plans to extend her range of impact through librarianship.

Her references sing her praise. One person said “Concepcion is among the most talented, intelligent, and ambitious people I’ve known. She is incredibly compassionate towards students and in her advocacy for them. She is a champion for social justice and equity in our schools. She is diligent and driven. She approaches problems with uncommon creativity and is not afraid to speak truth. She works tirelessly in helping students connect with the information and resources needed to be lifelong learners.”

Yet another person commented that “Concepcion is one of the finest educators I have had the pleasure of working with in all my many years in education. Not only does she exceed all professional expectations, but she is also an amazing person who has strong moral values and a passion for social justice. Her students adore her, not only because of her personality, but for her ability to challenge them at the highest level. She provides a world-class education while innovating and creating new opportunities for students. Her critical thinking skills and logical decision-making capabilities are definite assets. I know she will change the world, because I see how she does it one student at a time in her classroom. She is an outstanding educator worthy of the highest praise.”

Concepcion attends Western Kentucky University (Bowling Green, KY).

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.