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October 5, 2006

Pat McGuckin
Randy Nehrt

Jesse White Awards Annual Library Training Grants

SPRINGFIELD — Fifteen future librarians have been selected to receive a $7,500 scholarship grant from Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White to help pay for the cost of obtaining their Masters of Library and Information Science degree.

Each year the Illinois Library and Information Science Training Grant Program provides grants to college graduates who possess exceptional academic achievement and an interest in joining the library profession. The fifteen scholarships may be used for either full or part-time study at an American Library Association accredited graduate library school.

"The state of Illinois is a national leader in developing libraries and librarians, and this important program provides outstanding graduate students with some of the financial resources they need to obtain their Masters degree," said White. "One of the most important elements of this program requires these students to work the equivalent of two full years in Illinois library service within the first three years following graduation. Once they obtain the skills and training necessary to become librarians, we ensure that they put those skills to good use by provide outstanding service to library patrons in Illinois. We will keep libraries strong in Illinois by recruiting talented men and women to enter the library profession and encouraging them to work in Illinois libraries. I am pleased to congratulate these talented future librarians."

Ten of the students will pursue their MLS degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. They are:

• Stacy Michelle Atkins of Evanston
• Rachael Sara Bild of Chicago
• Marcia Ann Brandt of Herscher
• Robert Leroy Jones of Springfield
• Mary Katherine Krones of Hoffman Estates
• Marti Lee Palermo of Chicago
• Haley Downs Samuelson of Libertyville
• Jacquelyn Kay Shrum of Brimfield
• Mary Hulda Stec of Wauconda
• Kyla Renee Waltermire of Maryville

Four students will pursue their MLS at Dominican University in River Forest. They are:

• Lindsay Rekita Coleman of Chicago
• Semiramis Morales-Grady of Bolingbrook
• Joy Esther Salzman of Downers Grove
• Michelle Nicole Swiat of Orland Park

Leah Marie Bill of Diamond will pursue her degree at the University of Wisconsin at Madison.