{"id":7168,"date":"2025-01-22T12:01:58","date_gmt":"2025-01-22T18:01:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.lib.uiowa.edu\/news\/?p=7168"},"modified":"2025-02-05T13:30:25","modified_gmt":"2025-02-05T19:30:25","slug":"15-student-library-workers-receive-scholarships-for-2024-25","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lib.uiowa.edu\/news\/2025\/01\/22\/15-student-library-workers-receive-scholarships-for-2024-25\/","title":{"rendered":"15 student library workers receive scholarships for 2024\u201325"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Student library employees are a crucial part of what makes the University of Iowa Libraries such a valuable, accessible resource for the community on campus and beyond. Student employees work and grow alongside Libraries staff, directing users to needed resources, caring for materials, and contributing their ideas to guide the Libraries into tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the 2024\u20132025 academic year, 15 undergraduate student employees have been awarded scholarships in recognition of their work. We are proud to celebrate and learn from them as they share how their time in the Libraries has influenced their interests, well-being, and future plans. Be sure to congratulate the following students when you see them at the Libraries!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can learn more about UI Libraries student scholarships here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Judy and Mike Greer Scholarship<\/strong> in memory of Mary E. Greer<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Brianna Bowers <\/strong>is double majoring in computer science and English and creative writing. Originally from Cypress, Texas, Brianna was drawn to the University of Iowa because it is the Writing University. Through her job at the Libraries, she has also learned many other skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWorking in Special Collections and Archives has improved my skills in time management, especially for long-term independent projects. My ability to read French has also gone from nil to not bad.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kaleb Schlatter <\/strong>from Runnells, Iowa, studies history and Arabic. He believed the UI Department of History would provide a space to read, research, and think historically and transnationally. Working in Circulation and User Services at the Libraries has also expanded his worldview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWorking at the Libraries has provided opportunities to practice connecting people with resources and communicating across differences. The communication skills I’ve practiced while working at the Libraries are transferable in every workplace situation\u2014namely, careful listening and clear verbal communication. Working at the Libraries also requires regular engagement with large systems for sorting information, which has helped to refine my research skills.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Benton Family Music Library Student Employee Scholarship<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Maya St. Clair <\/strong>from Ankeny, Iowa, is studying music therapy with organ as her primary instrument. Her goal is to become a board\u2013certified music therapist, helping others every day. Her work at the Rita Benton Music Library continues to develop her organizational and interpersonal skills. Maya says these skills are preparing her for her career and she continues to be impressed by the resources available at the Libraries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am always just so surprised about how many resources the library has! Even though I have been working here for almost two years now, I am still learning about the many features of the library. It is amazing how many materials we have, and how much knowledge our amazing librarians have. I am so grateful that I have had the opportunity to work at the Rita Benton Music Library and learned so much from the people around me.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bentz Family Student Employee Scholarship<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Sadie Crandall <\/strong>is a student from Marion, Iowa, who is studying anthropology, archeology, museum studies, and ancient civilizations. Her work in Special Collections and Archives is preparing her for a career in museums, libraries, or archaeology. She says she\u2019s developing not just important skills in research, cataloguing, and collections care, but a life purpose and personal passion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel that our field of service is frequently taken for granted, as is the access to the services that they provide. Before working here, I had never thought deeply about the privilege it is to access information within my community and at my fingertips. Now, the thrill of retrieving the exact information that a patron from the community is seeking is always incredibly gratifying, and I am fueled in knowing that I made a difference by providing access and service. <\/em>I see my role as serving not the library or myself but the community and even the world. Community well\u2013being has very quickly become my focus and a goal I intend my career to support. The work that I am doing is also important for posterity, and so it is important that I work with all possible attention and passion to benefit the future generations of researchers and readers.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Adam Holmes <\/strong>has deep roots here, growing up in Iowa City, and now joins other members of his family as a Hawkeye. He will graduate with a degree in mechanical engineering next spring, with a focus area in design and a minor in math.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWorking at the UI Libraries has improved my time management skills. The front desk often requires juggling multiple tasks at once\u2014such as checking out materials, helping patrons, and assisting with tour groups\u2014teaching me to prioritize and manage my time efficiently. At first, it could be overwhelming, and I often needed to ask for help and support from my coworkers. Now, I feel much more organized, independent, and confident during busy times, staying calm and focused on helping others. I’m certain that time management will be important in my engineering career, enabling me to handle complex projects, meet tight deadlines, and remain calm and productive in stressful situations.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Gracie Pruitt <\/strong>came from Bettendorf, Iowa, to Iowa City because of Iowa\u2019s renowned health sciences program. Now, she is a microbiology major on the pre-med track with a minor in environmental science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause of my position at the Libraries, my time management skills have improved. I also believe that my organization is better because I am tasked with things such as shelf-reading, which is organizing books based on the correct cataloging system. I believe my interpersonal skills are stronger. I am increasing my confidence to help patrons with every shift. I want to be a doctor, and doctors need incredibly strong time management and organization skills. Doctors also must have good interpersonal skills, to stay calm when families of patients cannot be calm themselves.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sophia Yuhas <\/strong>is from Victoria, Minnesota, and earning a management degree with an art minor. Working at the Art Library has given her practical experience for her leadership and management studies. She has been involved in training new hires and helping them learn standard operating procedures at the library. She has also enjoyed learning to teach and practicing for a future career in management, while also expanding her knowledge of art history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am constantly surprised by the sheer volume of books we have at the Art Library alone! I am an artist and have always been interested in art history, but getting to talk to patrons about the books they check out has taught me so much about many unique topics I never would have thought to explore on my own. Working at the Art Library makes me excited to learn about as much art history as I can and encourage others to utilize the endless resources we have at the Libraries.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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UI Libraries Student Employee Scholarship<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Melissa Calderon, <\/strong>from La Grange Park, Illinois, is studying enterprise leadership with minors in media management and Spanish. Working at the Libraries has enhanced her communication skills through daily interactions with other students. She says it has helped her become more open and effective in connecting with others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSince working at the Libraries, I\u2019ve been surprised by how many new people I\u2019ve met! Whether it\u2019s coworkers I might not have crossed paths with or the students who visit the desk, it\u2019s always nice to see a friendly face around.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Olivia Comer <\/strong>is majoring in journalism and mass communications and communication studies. Originally from Indianola, Iowa, Oliva has volunteered or worked at four Iowa libraries in the last five years. She has learned new things at each place, but her experience at the UI Libraries is unique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy work at the Main Library has helped me grow my customer service skills, especially through working in an environment that is deeply connected to the campus and the greater Iowa City community. Because of the Main Library’s large population of student patrons, I’ve learned more about how to help younger and less library-proficient people become more confident using library services. It’s nice to be the face that answers their questions for the first time and introduces them to the many services and materials we have that can make their lives easier.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Jordyn Johnson <\/strong>grew up a Hawkeye fan in Davenport, Iowa. Now, she is a third\u2013year student at the Tippie College of Business studying entrepreneurial management. Working at the Marvin A. Pomerantz Business Library in the BizHub has strengthened necessary skills for her future career, even outside of the classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWorking at the BizHub has helped me with my focus and problem-solving skills because it\u2019s often loud and full of my classmates and friends. I have learned how to shut out all the noise and distractions when I need to get work done. My problem-solving skills have developed because every shift I get asked a question that is out of the ordinary. Half the time students are a bit frantic when asking the question because they are in a time crunch. Being able to admit you don’t know and find the answer while maintaining composure so that the student feels like they have come to the right place is important. Maintaining composure while problem solving in a time crunch can be applied to most careers.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ana Koch <\/strong>grew up in Iowa City, Iowa, and feels lucky to be in a nationally renowned nursing program that also allows her to remain local. She has always had a love for science and has enjoyed interacting with others through volunteering in her community. She looks forward to giving back to her community through nursing by helping people during some of their toughest moments. Until then, she is a busy student and continues to refine her communication abilities by working at the Libraries.

\u201cWhen I first started working at the Business Library, I was surprised by how lively and crowded the space could become. The space is incredibly interactive and inviting and every day is different! Working here over the past four years has helped me so much with my interpersonal communication skills. When I am at the desk, I am constantly interacting with students and using critical thinking skills to help solve varying problems.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Alyssa Lemay <\/strong>is majoring in statistics on the statistical computing\/data science track with minors in mathematics and computer science. She is from Sussex, Wisconsin, and chose to attend the University of Iowa because she fell in love with the feel of the campus and Iowa City as a whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe people at the University of Iowa and in the community truly care about each other and you can feel this when you come to the university. The amount of people and resources that are at the library to help students and community members is the most shocking thing that I’ve learned at the library. Working with the many research librarians and library staff makes it extremely evident that they care about helping people and connecting them with the many resources the university has to offer.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Juliann Pawlowski <\/strong>is from Plainfield, Illinois, and was attracted to the University of Iowa because of the welcoming environment for first generation students. She is studying biomedical engineering and sees her role at the Sciences Library preparing her for a career in manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c<\/em><\/strong>Since I work at the front desk I have learned a lot about communication in a professional environment. Being able to talk to peers, graduate students, and professors has helped me for my future career in engineering since I plan to work in the manufacturing environment!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ava Stork <\/strong>came to the University of Iowa from Ankeny, Iowa, because of the welcoming and intellectual atmosphere. Ava was looking for a place where she could grow personally and form meaningful relationships with peers and professors. Now, she is studying environmental policy and planning with a minor in urban studies and a certificate in sustainability. Her work at the Libraries has contributed to developing those meaningful connections, as she interacts with patrons during every shift. In addition to refining her communication skills, Ava has enjoyed and grown from tasks challenging her teamwork and creativity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI also feel that I have embraced more skills in creativity throughout my time at the Libraries. Utilizing all of the tools in the library to plan and host various events to engage students has allowed me to employ my own unique ideas, as well as work together with others to create successful exhibits. Teamwork, communication, and creativity are all valuable skills that can be taken into any future job.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ken Sullivan <\/strong>is from Iowa City, Iowa. She is grateful for the support and opportunities she has received at the University of Iowa through her unconventional journey through college. She is majoring in interdepartmental studies: health sciences with a global health emphasis with a history minor and medieval studies certificate. Ken\u2019s work at the Libraries is part of that experience, enabling her to grow into a more professional version of herself and providing a network of support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat surprised me was how much of a community the Libraries are. My supervisors always want to know how I’m doing, repeat patrons remember me, and my peers who work with me are always a delight to work with. We all help each other out which is different than some of my past jobs since I was not afforded such a supportive and welcoming environment by the people around me. I want to extend a thank you to the Libraries for making my time in college more rewarding.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We are proud to celebrate and learn from them as they share how their time in the Libraries has influenced their interests, wellbeing, and future plans. Be sure to congratulate the following students when you see them at the Libraries!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":369,"featured_media":7202,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[92,100],"syndication":[59,46,49,33,80,60,57],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.lib.uiowa.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7168"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.lib.uiowa.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.lib.uiowa.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.lib.uiowa.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/369"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.lib.uiowa.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7168"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/blog.lib.uiowa.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7168\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7224,"href":"https:\/\/blog.lib.uiowa.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7168\/revisions\/7224"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.lib.uiowa.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7202"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.lib.uiowa.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7168"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.lib.uiowa.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7168"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.lib.uiowa.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7168"},{"taxonomy":"syndication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.lib.uiowa.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/syndication?post=7168"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}