2017 Scholarship Winners

The VLA Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce the 2017 scholarship recipients. Congratulations to Stephani Moore, Whitney Nelsen, and Lauren Triola on their academic excellence and dedication to the field of Library Science.

VLA Paraprofessional Clara Stanley Scholarship
The 2017 recipient of the VLAPF Clara Stanley Scholarship is Whitney Nelsen from Frederick County, VA. Currently, Whitney works for the Handley Regional Library and for the Loudoun County Public Library. She says, “In the library I can feel the impact I’m making, whether I’m working with a doctoral candidate who is doing research for their dissertation or with a homeless person who needs information on community resources. My dedication to helping others and serving the community is what will help me succeed in librarianship.” Whitney has been active in VLA since 2017. She is obtaining her MLIS degree from Valdosta State University. 

VLA Scholarships
The 2017 recipients of the two VLA Scholarships are Stephani Moore and Lauren Triola.

Stephani Moore has worked with the Massanutten Regional Library in Harrisonburg, VA since 2014. One of Stephani’s goals in obtaining her graduate degree is to “stay current in the latest developments related to technology and social networking in libraries… to assist patrons, less experienced in using that technology.” She has been active in VLA since 2015. Stephani is earning her MLIS degree from the University of Maryland-College Park. 

Lauren Triola is from Fredericksburg, VA where she commutes to work for the Prince William Public Library in Dumfries. Her goal is to use cataloging to, “help make libraries and their collections continue to be accessible to everyone, especially to marginalized communities, who often are cut off from important educational resources.” Lauren is working toward her MLS from Clarion University of Pennsylvania.

 


VLA appreciates the support of this program. To learn more about the program, visit our Scholarships page. To make a tax-deductible donation to the Scholarship fund, please visit our donation page.


2016 VLA Scholarship Winners

altEmily Correa is this year’s winner of the Clara M. Stanley Scholarship, awarded by the VLA Professional Associates Form (VLAPAF). Emily is currently a Library Assistant at Blue Ridge Community College and is in the MLS program at University of North Texas. She has also worked as a teen programmer at Massanutten Regional Library. Her favorite quote is “I’m not afraid of a challenge,” and she is looking forward to finishing her MLS in December 2016 and moving forward with her career in librarianship.

 

altValerie Gaylard is an MLS student at University of North Texas and plans to graduate in May 2017. She is currently a technical services assistant at Rockbridge Regional Library System and has worked in libraries for eight years in both public and academic libraries. Her goal is to become a Technical Services Librarian and to ensure that the library’s data, software, and network structure are providing the best possible service to her community. She is also looking forward to building relationships with other library professionals in Virginia and beyond.

 

altElizabeth Walraven is an MLIS at San Jose State University and plans to graduate in 2017. She is a 2016 participant of the VLA Leadership Academy. She is a library specialist at Eastern Shore Community College, and also volunteers with the Wachapreague Volunteer Fire Company. She is motivated by student success, and takes pride in serving each patron and teaching information literacy to students. After receiving her degree, she hopes to continue working in a community college setting.

To make a tax-deductible donation to the Scholarship fund, please visit our donation page.


2015 Scholarship Award Winners

VLA Professional Associates Clara M. Stanley Scholarship
The 2015 recipient of the VLA Professional Associates Clara M. Stanley Scholarship is Lamar Ford III, from Newport News VA. Mr. Ford currently works full time for Hampton University's Harvey Library, and additionally for York County Public Library. He is pursuing his Master's in Library Information Science from the University of North Texas, and expects to graduate in 2016. Ultimately, wants to work in an academic library. In his scholarship application, Lamar stated that his "short-term goal is to obtain [his] master's degree ... , learning as much as possible about all departments collectively, meanwhile molding myself into a highly qualified, versatile librarian." Mr. Ford has been a member of VLA since 2015, but active in the association since 2014.  

VLA Virginia Public Library Directors Association Scholarship
The 2015 recipient of the VLA VPLDA Scholarship is William (Bill) Edwards-Bodmer from Portsmouth VA. He has been employed by Norfolk Public Library as an IT Trainer since January of this year. Mr. Edwards-Bodmer is pursuing his Master's of Science in Library and Information Studies from Florida State University, and expects to graduate in 2016. Bill greatly enjoys helping people find the information they need and has an interest in new technology developments in libraries. His goal is to combine these interests with a public service component to help public libraries and their patrons advance technologically. Mr. Edwards-Bodmer has been active in VLA since 2015.

VLA Scholarship Winner
The 2015 VLA Scholarship recipient is Abigail Hargreaves from Arlington VA. Ms. Hargreaves is currently employed as a Library Technician with Library Systems and Services, LLC in Maryland as well as with the Arlington County Public Library. Ms. Hargreaves is pursuing her Master's of Library and Information Science through San José State University and expects to graduate in May of 2016. Ms. Hargreaves' future goals include working in a public library serving the young adult population. Abigail is very supportive of free speech and intellectual freedom and promotes the library every chance she gets. Library and Information Science has always felt like a passion for Abigail and she is well on her way to achieving her goals. Ms. Hargreaves has been a member of VLA since 2015. 

Congratulations to Lamar, Bill and Abigail, who each received $2,500 towards their educations. Thank you to all who have contributed to the 2015 Scholarship Fund!

To make a tax-deductible donation to the Scholarship fund, please visit our donation page.


2014 Scholarship Award Winners

VLA Paraprofessional Clara Stanley Scholarship
The 2014 recipient of the VLAPF Clara Stanley Scholarship is Tasha Birckhead from Charlottesville, VA. Currently, Tasha works as the Circulation Support Specialist at the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library. Tasha has been active in VLA since 2013. For her future goals, Tasha wishes to create more outreach programming and partner with afterschool programs. She is obtaining her MLIS degree from the Florida State University.

VLA Scholarship
The 2014 recipient of the VLA Scholarship is Tova Johnson from Williamsburg, VA. She has been employed with the Williamsburg Regional Library since 2012 as a Circulation Services Assistant. Tova’s goal in obtaining a graduate degree is to become an archivist or academic librarian. Tova is a new member of VLA, since 2014, and active with the New Members Round Table and attended VLA Paraprofessional Forum Conference in 2013. She will attend San Jose State University's online MLIS program this fall.

Both Tasha and Tova received $2,500 towards their educations. Thank you to all who have contributed to the 2014 Scholarship Fund! To make a tax-deductible donation to the Scholarship fund, please visit our donation page.


2013 VLA Scholarship Winners

VLA Paraprofessional Clara M. Stanley Scholarship
The 2013 recipient of the VLA Paraprofessional Clara Stanley Scholarship is Christopher Smith from Charlottesville, VA. Currently, Christopher works for the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library System. He is pursuing his Masters in Library Science degree at the University of North Texas. Christopher is a dedicated library employee looking forward to his future in libraries. “I intend to provide the best possible reference service to library patrons, both in-person and remotely,” Mr. Smith stated in his scholarship application. Christopher has been active in VLA since 2012.

VLA Scholarship
The 2013 recipient of the VLA Scholarship is Simone Horst from Harrisonburg, VA. She has been employed as an Archives Assistant since May of 2012. She has been active in VLA since 2012. Ms. Horst is pursuing her Masters in Library and Information Science degree from the University of South Carolina. Ms. Horst is looking forward to her career in librarianship, as she stated in her scholarship application, “I understand that the rapid movement of technology is having a great impact on the library and information science profession and I hope to continue to be an library and information professional who is willing to work with new technologies to create and maintain collections that will be useful to patrons in the digital age.”

Christopher and Simone will each receive $2,500, thanks to your generous donations to the VLA Scholarship Fund. To make a tax-deductible donation to the Scholarship fund, please visit our donation page.


2012 VLA Scholarship Winners

VLA Paraprofessional Clara Stanley Scholarship
The 2012 recipient of the VLAPF Clara Stanley Scholarship is Zoe Dellinger from Edinburg, VA. Currently, Zoe works as the Circulation Supervisor at the Shenandoah County Library. As she stated, “Libraries in small, rural communities such as ours have few other institutions that provide afterschool programs, teen activities, arts enrichment, entertainment and lifelong learning. Our library is essential to the economic, social and cultural well-being of our community” and she is proud to be contributing to that community. Zoe has been active in VLA since 2010. She is obtaining her MLIS degree and a Graduate Advanced Certificate in library management from the University of North Texas.

VLA Scholarship
The 2012 recipient of the VLA Scholarship is Claire Covington of Fishersville, VA. She has been employed as the Youth Services Coordinator at the August County Library since July 2011 and began working there in March 2009 as a Library Assistant. One of Claire’s goals in obtaining a graduate degree is to “promote, educate, and entertain patrons in order to increase library usage and to instill a lifelong love of reading in the people of my community.” She has been active in VLA since 2010. Claire is earning her MLIS degree from the University of South Carolina.

To make a tax-deductible donation to the Scholarship fund, please visit our donation page.


2011 VLA Scholarship Winners

VLA Paraprofessional Clara Stanley Scholarship
The 2011 recipient of the VLAPF Clara Stanley Scholarship is Andi Ogier from Blacksburg, VA. Currently, Andi works as the Serials Continuations Specialist at the Newman Library of Virginia Tech. Andi has been active in VLA since 2010, and will present a session at the May 2011 Paraprofessional Conference. For her future goals, Andi wishes to continue in e-resource provision and data curation. She is obtaining her MLIS degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

VLA Scholarship
The 2011 recipient of the VLA Scholarship is Kimberly Rose of Haysi, VA. She has been employed as a Library Assistant at the Lonesome Pine Regional Library since 1997. Kimberley’s goal in obtaining a graduate degree is to move into library administration and explains that, “there is a lot of talk about libraries becoming irrelevant. I believe this is a false notion, and I see the proof of it everyday as I strive to satisfy the diverse needs and wants of the public.” She has been active in VLA since 2011. Kimberley is earning her MSLIS degree from Clarion University of Pennsylvania.

Buckingham County Friends of the Library Memorial Scholarship
The 2011 recipient of this new scholarship is Hayley Tompkins of Palmyra, VA. She is a part-time Library Shelver at the Northside branch of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library and the part-time Archive Specialist with the Fluvanna County Historical Society. She has been a member of VLA since 2010. Exhibiting her love of history and desire to work in reference and archives, Hayley volunteered at the Historical Society in 2007, followed by an internship and, later, a part-time position. She explains her decision to enter the field of librarianship by stating, “the library science field encompasses everything that I love—knowledge, books, information, and history—into one, which means that it’s always interesting to me, and it allows so much room for growth.” Hayley is earning her MLS degree from the University of North Texas.

Thank you to all who contributed to the 2011 Scholarship Funds, and to the Buckingham County Friends of the Library for their generous support. To make a tax-deductible donation to the Scholarship fund, please visit our donation page.