Ten iSchool Students Named 2018-2019 ALA Spectrum Scholars

News

Ten San José State University School of Information graduate students have been awarded 2018-2019 Spectrum scholarships by the American Library Association’s Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services.

The Spectrum Scholarship Program actively recruits exceptional students and provides scholarships to “assist them with obtaining a graduate degree and leadership positions within the profession and ALA.”

The Spectrum Scholars will each receive $5,000; a one-year student membership to ALA; free student admission to the ALA annual conference during the scholarship year; free attendance to the Spectrum Leadership Institute, a three-day institute that highlights cross-cultural models of leadership and features national library and community leaders; complimentary memberships to ALA divisions and participating round tables and affiliates during the scholarship year; and both formal and informal mentoring opportunities.

2018 iSchool Spectrum Scholars

  • Stephanie Akau (Association of College and Research Libraries Scholar)
  • Indira Chakrabarti (Inspire American Association of School Libraries Scholar)
  • Alejandra Alfaro
  • Elisa Marie Cruz
  • Andrea Guzmán
  • Liliana Elizabeth Lopez
  • Ifeanyichukwu D. Ogamba
  • Nancy Garcia Ramirez (Northern California and Nevada Medical Library Group Scholar)
  • Yer Vang
  • Brandi Veal

To be eligible for a Spectrum scholarship, each applicant must be a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. or Canada and identify as American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Middle Eastern and North African, and/or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander. They must also attend an ALA-accredited graduate program in library and information studies beginning no later than Sept. 1 (or fall semester), have full- or part-time status, and plan to maintain a minimum course load of two classes per semester.

The 10 iSchool students are pursuing a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science. Their graduate studies will prepare them for professional careers in the library and information science field. 

According to ALA, a “prestigious committee of 10 jurors” selected this year’s Spectrum Scholars based on their “commitment to equity and inclusion, demonstrated community outreach, commitment to the library profession, academic achievements and leadership potential.” Since 1997, ALA has awarded more than 1,100 Spectrum scholarships. A list of iSchool students awarded the scholarship over the years can be viewed on the iSchool scholarship web page.

To learn more about how to become a Spectrum Scholar, visit the ALA application page.