Spectrum Scholarship winners announced
Gwendolyn Prellwitz
Acting Director, ALA Office for Diversity
312-280-5048
NEWS
For Immediate Release
July 29, 2008
CHICAGO - The American Library Association's (ALA) Office for Diversity has chosen its 2008 Spectrum Scholars. The Spectrum Scholarship Program aims at recruiting applicants and awarding scholarships to American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students for graduate programs in library and information studies. Its mission is to improve service at the local level through the development of a representative workforce that reflects the communities served by all libraries in the new millennium. Since 1997, the ALA has awarded a total of 564 Spectrum Scholarships. Nearly 70 percent of past Spectrum Scholars remain active in the ALA three years after graduation.
The 2008 Spectrum Scholars are:
Rhonda J. Allard (MLA/ NLM Scholar), University of Pittsburgh
Kristen Armstrong, The Catholic University of America
Steven De'Juan Booth, Simmons College
Letitia Jeremia Bulic, Florida State University
Orisanmi Burton, Long Island University
Charisse Nicole Byers, University of Southern Mississippi
Leslie Elizabeth Campbell, University of Arizona
Andrew Cano, Drexel University
Melissa Nicol Chance, University of British Columbia
Jeannie Chen, University of California-Los Angeles
Haley Jessamyn Collazo, Pratt Institute
Linda Sue Collins, Chicago State University
Deidra Catherine Garcia, Florida State University
Michelle Gorospe, University of California at Los Angeles
George Edward Gottschalk, University of Oklahoma
Harriett Elizabeth Green (William R. Gordon Scholar), University of Illinois
K'Lani Green, University of South Carolina
Deana L. Greenfield, University of Illinois
Nefertiti Guzman, St. John’s University
Nicole Elaine Head, University of Missouri-Columbia
Katy Seon Hepner, Queens College, City University of New York
Elizabeth Marie Hernandez, Pratt Institute
Elizabeth Hernandez, Dominican University
Adriana Alvarez Huertas, San Jose State University
Rebecca D. Hunt, University of Alabama
Harrison W. Inefuku, University of British Columbia
Marissa Jacobo, San Jose State University
Boutsaba Janetvilay, San Jose State University
Evone Jeffries (MLA/ NLM Scholar), University of Pittsburgh
Suchitra Kamath, Rutgers University
Melissa Nnasimbwa Kayongo, University of Hawaii
Aiza Rianna Keesey, Pratt Institute
Mojgan Khosravi, San Jose State University
Lisa Lavon Kidd (Leo Albert Scholar), University California-Los Angeles
Alice Kim, University of Hawaii
Kimberly Evette Ladson (Howard M. and Gladys B. Teeple Scholar), Drexel University
Samantha Le Blanc, University of Pittsburgh
Hsin-I Desiree Leary, Rutgers University
Hannah Kyung Lee, University of Illinois
Letoria Gales Lewis, Emporia State University
Melinda Maria Livas, University of North Carolina-Greensboro
Richard N. Ma, Drexel University
Lauren Elizabeth Mabry, University of Alabama
Onaona Miller, University of Maryland
Angela Patricia Murillo, University of Iowa
Sonoe Tsulan Nakasone, Pratt Institute
Omar Jerome Poler (Louise Giles Scholar), University of Wisconsin-Madison
Margaret B. Puentes, San Jose State University
Laksamee Anne Putnam, University of Illinois
Refugio Ramirez, University of California-Los Angeles
Michelle Anne Ruiz, University of Arizona
Roy Saldaña, Jr., University of Illinois
Pablo A. Sandoval, University of Washington
Ashley Lynn Shifflett, University of Western Ontario
Juan de Jesus Soria, San Jose State University
Amanda Michelle Stinson, University of North Texas
Kimmy Szeto, Queens College, City University of New York
Deborah Kazumi Takahashi, San Jose State University
Laura Arizmendi Tamanaha, San Jose State University
Manju Tanwar, University of South Carolina
Kimberly Rose Trinh-Sy, The College of St. Catherine
Serena Jennifer Vaquilar, Wayne State University
Angela Lynette Watts, San Jose State University
Jovanni M. Williams, University of California-Los Angeles
Krystle R. Williams, University of Michigan
Yani L. Yancey, University of Maryland
Israel Yanez, San José State University
Christine Jennifer Yontz-Orlando, Valdosta State University
Jamie L. Young (YALSA Scholar), Drexel University
Established in 1997, the ALA committed resources for 50 annual scholarships of $5,000 a year for Spectrum's first four years. The Spectrum program continues to fund scholarships through the initial endowment and the generous contributions of individuals and organizations whose donations support named scholarships in the Spectrum Family of Funds. For 2008, scholarships have been awarded in honor of the following individuals: Leo Albert, Louise Giles, William R. Gordon, and Howard M. and Gladys B. Teeple.
In 2005, the Medical Library Association/National Library of Medicine (MLA/NLM) raised its commitment to provide an additional named annual award and now funds two scholarships a year through 2010. The MLA/NLM Spectrum Scholarships support students of color with an interest in the field of medical or health sciences librarianship.
Ten of the 2008 Spectrum Scholarships have been funded by proceeds from the ALA/ProQuest Scholarship Bash. In addition to raising much-needed funds for scholarships, the ALA/ProQuest Scholarship Bash provides a fun event for librarians each year at the ALA Annual Conference.
Additionally, the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), through an ALA Ahead to 2010 grant, has funded one 2008 ALA Spectrum Scholar pursuing a career in young adult librarianship or secondary school librarianship.
The substantial increase in available scholarships is due both to the generosity of the individuals and organizations above and to a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Through the three-year “Reach 21” grant, IMLS will fund 25 scholarships a year in 2008, 2009 and 2010. The IMLS is an independent federal grant-making agency dedicated to creating and sustaining a nation of learners by helping libraries and museums serve their communities. To learn more about the Institute, please visit:
http://www.imls.gov.
For more information on Spectrum and how you can contribute, please contact the Office for Diversity at 1 (800) 545-2433 ext. 5048 or visit
www.ala.org/spectrum. The application period for 2009 Spectrum Scholarships will open in late October 2008.
