ILLINOIS SECRETARY OF STATE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 4, 2000 CONTACT: Dave Druker or CONTACT: Randy Nehrt

White Awards Library Training Grants to 15 Illinois Students

SPRINGFIELD –– Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White announced today that 15 university students in Illinois have been named recipients of Illinois State Library Training Grants.

     To promote quality library service throughout Illinois, the Secretary of State awards up to 15 training grants of $7,500 each to students who are enrolling in Masters degree programs in an accredited graduate library school. Recipients must be residents of Illinois, and are required to work for two years in an eligible Illinois library following graduation. Grant funding is provided to the state of Illinois from federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSAT) funds.

     "Illinois is among the nation’s leaders in providing financial support for the education and training of librarians and information specialists," White said. "We actively recruit individuals and provide them with training grants to obtain a Master of Library Science degree. This grant program has allowed nearly 200 students to obtain the training necessary to become librarians and information specialists. Nearly all of these recipients have remained in Illinois, and most are currently working in public libraries throughout the state.

     "This program ensures that Illinois libraries will continue to be staffed with individuals who are the most well educated and most highly qualified in their field. I congratulate this year’s recipients and commend them for their interest in serving the public as future librarians."

     White identified this year’s recipients as:

• Adriana Kaczmarczyk Albers of Elgin, Dominican University.
• Sara Colette Alberts of Hoffman Estates, Dominican University.
• Earnestine LaKhangela Carter of Chicago, Dominican University.
• Andrea D. Cross of Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign.
• Beverly Diane Hatcher of Springfield, University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign.
• Melissa Henderson of Libertyville, University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign.
• Kari Lynn Hennenfent of Bloomington, University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign.
• Jennifer Lynn Hootman of Morton, University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign.
• Gail Diane Janz of Tonica, University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign.
• Karen Koppen Johnson of Downers Grove, Dominican University.
• Teresa Madrigal of Chicago, Dominican University.
• Patricia Shannon McLaughlin of Winnetka, Dominican University.
• Brian Michael Rutzen of West Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign.
• Lori Arnette Sanders of Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign.
• Susan Aileen Storm of Arthur, University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign.