The American Library Association Spectrum Scholarship Program recruits and provides scholarships to American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Middle Eastern and North African, and/or Native Hawaiian/Other 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.

In recent years, the ALA has granted about 60 scholarships per year, most worth $5,000. The iSchool provides a match — $5,000 for each recipient.

Recent ALA Spectrum Scholars at the iSchool

2023-24 cohort

Maria Fernanda Arteaga Cuevas is a third-year, first-generation online student living in Seattle. “In my career I hope to advocate for FAIR and CARE data management practices, while also supporting the next generation of information professionals by promoting equity, diversity and inclusion in libraries and beyond,” Cuevas said. Read more

Gabrielle Garcia is a second-year residential student from San Diego. Garcia is a Cuban Jewish artist and an aspiring archivist and librarian with interests in LGBTQ histories and cultures, media studies, visual art and design, museums, care-centered and trauma-informed archival practices, and community archives. Read more

Judy Low is an incoming online student from Los Angeles. “My hopes for the work I do in this field are to champion accessibility and representation to empower, inspire and engage a lifelong curiosity and connection to the library and beyond,” she said. Read more

Emily Valdez is a second-year online student living in the D.C. metro area of Northern Virginia. “Moving forward, I am interested in exploring and developing teen-centered outreach programs and continuing to advocate for the teens in my community and beyond,” Valdez said. Read more

Sherese Card, a continuing residential student in the program, was also among the scholarship recipients.

2022-23 cohort

• Mei'lani Eyre
• Danielle Galvan Gomez
• Nestor Guerrero
• Michelle Noriega
• Hayley Park
• Bianca Phipps
• Dev Wilder

Read about the 2022-2023 scholarship recipients 

2021-22 cohort

• Truc Ho
• Kaitlin Srader

Read about the 2021-2022 scholarship recipients 

2020-21 cohort

• Dillon Baker
• Lex Barlowe
• Jacqui Howell
• Alice Pérez Ververa

Read about the 2020-2021 scholarship recipients 

2019-20 cohort

• Joanne Chern
• Taylor Healey-Brooks
• Joan Hua
• Courtney Nomiyama
• Tania-María Ríos Marrero
• Conrrado Saldivar
• Meneka Thiru
• Karen Wang

Read about the 2019-20 scholarship recipients

2018-19 cohort

• Jazmine Applin
• Amanda Chin
• Riko Fluchel
• Karen Sánchez
• Julie Varee
• Kelli Akemi Yakabu
• Nam Jin Yoon

Read about the 2018-19 scholarship recipients

2017-18 cohort

• Cristal Fiel
• Jasmine Gutierrez
• Charlene Hien Quach

Past Spectrum Scholars

• Melody Leung, 2016-17
• Erika Miller, 2016-17
• Nicola Andrews, 2015-16
• Erica Ervin, 2015-16
• Sunny Kim, 2015-16
• Sarah Reis, 2015-16
• Karen Chen, 2014-15
• Jessica Humphries, 2014-15
• Xochitl Rocha, 2014-15
• Katherine Van Arsdale, 2014-15
• April Ybarra, 2014-15
• Twanna Hodge, 2013-14
• Melissa Kahili, 2013-14
• Aiyanna Looney, 2013-14
• Mario Macias, 2013-14
• Kimberly R. Tate, 2013-14
• Lisa L. Tyler, 2013-14
• Andrea Barkley, 2012-13
• Brandon Cal, 2012-13
• Connie Thompson, 2012-13