COI: Why did you apply for the scholarship? What made you think you were a match for it?

Vanessa: I applied for the Florence Richardson Wilhite Endowed Scholarship because although I am already working in the library field while obtaining my MLS, I understand that the financial cost of graduate school is much higher compared to when one obtains their Bachelor's. This scholarship was one of the few that I qualified for due to being only a part-time graduate student, for which I am extremely grateful for given my full-time commitment at my current position. I believed that I was a match for this scholarship on the basis that I have been working at my library for 6 years now, in addition to my leadership skills as well as my work ethic. 

COI: How has this scholarship helped you reach your goals?

Vanessa: This scholarship has helped lessen my worry about paying off a portion of my student loans that I have to take out to pursue my MLS degree. I can focus on my coursework, but I can also continue to grow in my current library specialist position. This scholarship allows me to be one step closer to obtaining a librarian position post-graduation. 

COI: Give us one or two highlights about what you have accomplished so far as a student in the program.

Vanessa: In my first semester, my class had a group project, and I was lucky enough to have partners who also happen to be my coworkers, so we worked well together on the group project and got an A! Secondly, in my second semester, because of my current library specialist position, I had the opportunity to supervise a graduating MLS student in their practicum work under Dr. Ana Cleveland, who actually was my professor for the second course that I was taking in my first semester. Felt like such a small world!