ALSC announces winners of 2017 Bound to Stay Bound, Melcher Scholarships

CHICAGO – The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) announced six scholarship winners for the 2017-2018 academic year.

Four winners were awarded the Bound to Stay Bound Books scholarship, which is made possible by Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc. All four recipients will receive $7,500 in scholarship aid for the 2017-2018 academic year. The four recipients are: Vincent Thomas Hyland, attending Long Island University; Megan Ashley Hoak, attending Valdosta State University; Keshia Latrice-Carol Nash-Johnson, attending San Jose State University; and Melissa Sue Wise, attending University of North Texas.

Hyland is a multilingual NYC public school teacher who has received a Fulbright scholarship. Hoak presents as an active student and engaged library worker, who currently creates teen and preschool programs. Nash-Johnson is an active ALA member, who currently works in Santa Monica as a library page. Wise, who speaks French, Japanese, and Spanish, currently gives multilingual tours for Austin Public Library.

Two winners were awarded the Frederic G. Melcher Scholarship which is made possible by contributions from librarians, professionals and others associated with the field of children’s literature. This award is worth $7,500 in scholarship aid. The two recipients are: Cynthia Pauline Rogers, attending Emporia State University and Naomi Grace Giles, attending Longwood University.

Rogers became a social studies teacher and later, a school librarian. She coordinated the local public library's Summer Reading Program. Giles is a bilingual math teacher who is looking to return to the workforce as a school librarian. Not only did she teach for several years, she also helped develop a math curriculum for the county, and volunteered for several youth organizations.

Each year, ALSC provides the Bound to Stay Bound Books and Melcher Scholarships to help advance the profession of children’s librarianship. Recipients must complete their academic work at an ALA-accredited institution. Recipients are also expected to accept positions after graduation in the field of library service to children for at least one year.

ALSC, a division of the ALA, is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. With a network of more than 4,000 children’s and youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty, ALSC is committed to creating a better future for children through libraries. To learn more about ALSC, visit ALSC’s website at www.ala.org/alsc.

The 2017 ALSC Scholarship Committee includes: Robin J. Howe, Chair, Kent (Washington) Library, King County Library System; Katie M. Eckert, Free Library of Philadelphia; Elizabeth Hanisian, Virtual Member; Jean A. Hatfield, Virtual Member; Allison W. McLean, Elkhart (Indiana) Public Library; Jane B. Marino, The Nyack (New York) Library.