Student Scholarships and Awards

SLIS Awards

Anna M. Roberts Award for Scholarship, Service, and Professionalism, named in honor of Anna Roberts, the first Professor and first Chair of Library Science department, is given to a graduate of the previous year, majoring in Library Science, who possesses an outstanding scholastic record, who provides evidence of distinguished service to the School of Library and Information Science, the University, and the Community, and who displays promise and leadership in the field of library science. 

2021 – Bethanie Finger
2020 – Laura Schreiber
2019 – Barbara Bera
2018 - Phadre Hocker
2017 – Alex Brower
2016 - Ruby Olivia Potter
2015 - Jordan Alexandra Pettigrew
2014 - Alexandra Snyder
2013 - Lori Clendenning
2012 – Kelly Bennett

Warren Tracy Award for Professionalism, Scholarship, and Service, named in honor of Warren Francis Tracy, USM Professor Emeritus of Library Science, is given to a graduate MLIS student of the previous year who possesses an outstanding scholastic record, who provides evidence of distinguished service to the School of Library and Information Science, and who displays professional promise and leadership in the field of library science.

2021 – Laura Valliant
2020 – Rachel McMullen
2019 – Alex Brower
2018 - Lauren Ashley Howell
2017 - Emilie Aplin
2016 - Jessica Whipple
2015 - Carlos Benjamin Crocker
2014 - Jeannie Ferris
2013 - Christine Hiller
2012 - Sharon Kelleher

National Scholarships, Awards

American Library Association $5,000 Spectrum Scholarship

• Lynn Cowles, ProQuest Scholar, 2017

• Timothy Nalin Senapatiratne, 2011

• Charisse Nicole Byers, 2008

• Mantra Henderson, 1998

• Jama Lumumba, 1998

 

Association for Rural & Small Libraries Dr. Bernard Vavrek Scholarship

• Hannah Hobbs, 2021

 

ASCLA Century $2,500 Scholarship

• Cynthia Nugent, 2007

 

ALA Emerging Leaders Program

• Phillip Carter, Association of Rural & Small Libraries, 2018

• Lauren Ashley Howell,  ACRL European Studies Section, 2018

• Jennifer Nabzdyk Todd,  Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA), 2015

• Jennifer Walker, Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA), 2010

 

ALA Student-to-Staff Program

• Whitney Baswell, 2019

• Rachel McMullen, 2018

• Charlotte Roi, 2017

• Michael Oden, 2016

• Jessica Whipple, 2015

• Callie Wiygul, 2014

• Ginger Rogers, 2013

• Deanna Day, 2012

 

Southern Miss SLIS Scholarships

Dr. Elizabeth Haynes LIS Scholarship 

• 2021 - Matthew Fillingame

• 2020 - Carl Jared Ziegler

   

Dr. Teresa S. Welsh LIS Scholarship

• 2021 - Caroline Akers

   

Molline Mayfield Keyes Scholarship 

• 2021 - Savannah Covarrubias, Anna Morgan

• 2020 - Elizabeth Latham, Vanessa Armstrong

• 2019 - Michael Emerson, Cherry Lockett

• 2018 - Megan Lindsay, Autumn Donaldson

• 2017 - Lynn Cowles, Kelly Thompson

• 2016 - Abby Mayfield, Charlayne Burkett

• 2015 - Floyce Thomas, Scott Manganello

   

H. W. Wilson Foundation Scholarship 

• 2021 - Therese Rose Beranis, Victoria Patrick

• 2020 - Laura Valliant, Chrystal Coon

• 2019 - Deborah Thompson, Dustin Cotton

• 2018 - Kate Prendergast, Rachel McMullen

• 2017 - Alex Brower, Carrie Mastley

• 2016 - Stephanie Evans, Rebecca Humbert

• 2015 - Kelly Kitzman, LaQuana Burks

   

School of Library and Information Science Scholarship 

• 2021 - Jennifer Ottinger

• 2020 - Jennifer Ottinger

• 2019 - Candace Burkett

• 2018 - Ever McKinney

• 2017 - Melinda Smith

• 2016 - Annie Watkins

• 2015 - Rebecca Houston

   

Beta Phi Mu Beta Psi Chapter Scholarship 

• 2021 - Bridy Foster

• 2019 - Kate Dutro

• 2018 - Elaine Walker

• 2017 - Alex Brower

• 2016 - Emilie Aplin

• 2015 - Rebecca Houston

 

Mississippi Scholarships

Mississippi Library Commission Public Librarian Scholarships

• 2021 - Mandy Hornsby, Cynthia Hudson, Megan Miller, Loraine Walker, Meridith Wulff 

 

Mississippi Library Association Scholarships

Until Peggy May's tragic and untimely death in 1974, she traveled the state to support library colleagues in small and large libraries to develop library services for its citizens. The Peggy May Scholarship was established to honor her dedication to librarianship and her commitment to recruit talented individuals to the profession. The award of about $1,000 is made to a qualified graduate student currently enrolled or admitted in the Southern Miss School of Library and Information Science.

• 2020 - Amanda Osborne

• 2019 - Rachel Long

• 2018 - Katherine Dutro

• 2017 - Alex Brower

• 2016 - Lakesha Smith

• 2015 - Rebecca Houston

 

The Virgia Brocks-Shedd Scholarship is awarded by the MLA Black Caucus Roundtable (BCRT) in honor of the late Virgia Brocks-Shedd who devoted 26 years of outstanding service to the humanities. This award is made annually to a minority student and is a one-time, non-renewable award paid directly to the recipient. The recipient must attend the Southern Miss School of Library and Information Science.

• 2019 - Shirley Ginn

• 2018 - Juana Harris

• 2017 - Brenette Nichols

• 2016 - Zupuriuh Harrington

• 2015 - Joanna Williams

• 2014 - Floyce Thomas

 

Central Mississippi Library Council (CMLC) Scholarship 

• 2020 - Amy Lee
• 2019 - Diana Brown
• 2018 - Kelly Thompson
• 2017 - Hannah Berryhill
• 2016 - Brittany Tibbett
• 2015 - Emilie Aplin

 

IMLS-Funded MInority Scholarship Initiative, 2009-2012

In 2009, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded a grant of $429,388.00 to Southern Miss SLIS to fund a minority scholarship initiative to increase the number of underrepresented minority librarians in the state. Through targeted recruiting of minority undergraduates in Mississippi's universities and colleges, the project awarded 10 IMLS-funded scholarships to minority students. All 10 recipients earned a MLIS degree and are working as professional librarians in a variety of libraries.