School of Library and Information Science
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.
- 2022 – Clista Shamley
- 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.
- 2022 – Sarah Hodge-Wetherbe
- 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
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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
- 2022 – Robert McRae
- 2021 – Matthew Fillingame
- 2020 – Carl Jared Ziegler
Dr. Teresa S. Welsh LIS Scholarship
- 2022 – Jaleesa Kennedy
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2021 – Caroline Akers
Molline Mayfield Keyes Scholarship
- 2022 – Jovonne Carr, Lara Taylor
- 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
- 2022 – Alicia Bass
- 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
- 2022- Amanda Osborne
- 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.
- 2022- Lara Taylor
- 2021 – Anita Winger
- 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.
- 2022- Contaka Norman
- 2021 – Erik Cebrian
- 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.
