Four University of Washington Master of Library and Information Science students are among the recipients of 2024-25 Spectrum Scholarships, the American Library Association has announced. 

“We are always so proud to have our students successfully apply for this important scholarship, and these four students speak to the diversity of interests and fields of study inside our program,” said MLIS Program Chair Cindy Aden. “Congratulations to all of them, and thanks to ALA for continuing to support the development of library professionals. We know they will make a difference wherever they choose to be.”

The Spectrum Scholarship Program provides scholarships to American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Middle Eastern and North African, and/or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander students to assist them with obtaining a graduate degree and leadership positions within the profession and ALA. The aim is to increase the number of racially and ethnically diverse professionals in the field of library and information science to best position libraries at the core of today’s culturally diverse communities. The iSchool students are among 70 recipients from across the country this year. They include:

Melissa McCall is an online law librarianship student originally from Brooklyn, New York, by way of the Eastern Caribbean and now living in Chevy Chase, Maryland. She currently works for Thomson Reuters as a legal writer. In the short term, McCall is focused on academic librarianship and becoming a reference librarian, but she is open to other possibilities long-term.

“I am pursuing an MLIS at the University of Washington because it offers a law librarianship specialty that allows me to pursue both my love of writing and my love of legal research,” said McCall. 

Erica Owan is a first-year student in the residential program from the island of Kauaʻi in Hawaiʻi. She has worked with the Hawai’i State Public Libraries System for almost 2 years in various positions. As a future librarian, she hopes to push for the development, accessibility, and sustainability of libraries. Owan said her goal is to create environments that promote belonging, learning and growth. 

“I am a proud product of my local public library system and I am deeply invested in the future of public libraries for all,” said Owan. “Growing up, I witnessed how libraries provide a means for the community to access resources and engage with one another. Having a safe physical space that allows our most vulnerable members of society to peacefully exist is essential in community care.” 

Jet To is also a residential student originally from Hong Kong who is in their second year of the MLIS program. They came to study library and information science after working in museums and education non-profits. Currently working in Learning Services at UW Libraries as the McKinstry Fellow, To enjoys facilitating research and helping people ask better questions to find better answers. 

“I hope to combine my passion for the preservation and sharing of knowledge with my desire to build community within and across marginalized groups,” said To. 

MLIS student Sandra Martinez was also among this year’s scholarship recipients but has not responded to inquiries.