SPRINGFIELD –– Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White announced today that 15 university students in Illinois have been named recipients of 2002/2003 Illinois State Library Training Grants.
In an effort to promote quality library service throughout Illinois and encourage students to become librarians, the Secretary of State awards up to 15 training grants of $7,500 each to students who are enrolling in Masters degree programs in an accredited graduate library school. In Illinois, students can obtain a Master of Library Sciences degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign and at Dominican University in River Forest. Recipients must be residents of Illinois, and are required to work for two years in an eligible Illinois library following graduation. Grant funding is provided to the state of Illinois from federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSAT) funds.
"Illinois is among the nation's leaders in providing financial support to educate and train librarians and information specialists," White said. "The Library Training Grant Program helps ensure that Illinois libraries will continue to be staffed with individuals who are the most highly qualified in their field. I congratulate this year's recipients and commend them for their interest in serving the public as future librarians."
According to White, the grant program has allowed approximately 200 students to obtain the training necessary to become librarians and information specialists. Nearly all of the students who obtained training grants have remained in Illinois, and most are currently working in public libraries throughout the state.
White identified this year's recipients as:
- Lynn Atay Andrew of Hoffman Estates, who will pursue her MLS degree at Dominican University
- Arlene Frances Badillo of Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign
- Brian Lee Chase of Normal, U of I at U/C
- Amber Lea Creger of Chicago, Dominican University
- Michele Alison Davis of Buffalo Grove, Dominican University
- Katharine Jeanne Freding of Buffalo Grove, U of I at U/C
- Renee Goston of Chicago, U of I at U/C
- Lori Michele Hendershot of Chicago, Dominican University
- Mary Lou McClain of Grayslake, Dominican University
- Vanessa Marie Morrison of Oglesby, Dominican University
- Teri Lee Rankin of O'Fallon, U of I at U/C
- Kari Janelle Smith-Boyer of Morton, U of I at U/C
- Kelly Ann Supernaw of Lisle, Dominican University
- Christopher Allen Sweet of Metamora, U of I at U/C
- Andrea Brown Witthoft of Anna, U of I at U/C
