Each year, GSLIS recognizes a group of outstanding students for their achievement in academics as well as a number of attributes that contribute to professional success. The following student awards were presented at the GSLIS Convocation on May 12, 2013.
Bryce Allen Award for Reference Services
Presented to Carl Lehnen by JoAnn Jacoby:
As a graduate assistant in Reference, Research and Scholarly Services, Carl is passionate about exploring ways to support the information needs of our diverse constituency. His past experience teaching college composition and literature have enhanced the library’s reference services in many ways, most notably through his ability to make the most of the teachable moment in every reference interaction, his deep subject knowledge in the humanities, and his empathy for our users as they learn, His understanding of how to help students develop information literacy skills is clearly evident every time Carl is on the reference desk.
C. Berger Group Entrepreneurial Promise Awards
Presented to Kinyetta Nance by Dr. Jon Gant:
The GSLIS faculty is very proud to select Kinyetta Nance for the Entrepreneurial Promise Award. Kinyetta’s entrepreneurial spirit is an amazing gift along with her sense of creativity and ingenuity. Nurtured by her mother and family’s support, Kinyetta has always taken an interest in technology. From her days as a young girl tinkering with computers and the Internet, Kinyetta’s life centers on helping entrepreneurs use information technology to bring innovations to an ever-changing society. While an undergraduate and graduate student of the University of Illinois, Kinyetta launched several ventures in Costa Rica and in Champaign; traveled to Silicon Valley and met with technology leaders; and assisted the GSLIS community at the Help Desk. Through the inspiration of her mother, Kinyetta will be joining the GSLIS PhD program starting this fall. She will continue her research on using social media to support entrepreneurs.
Berner-Nash Memorial Award
Presented to Karen Wickett by Dr. Allen Renear:
Karen Wickett’s dissertation on the relationships between descriptions of collections and descriptions of items in collections explores some of the most foundational concepts in library and information science: collection, item, description. Her precise, subtle analysis identifies key features of these relationships and reveals the existence of a complex framework of rules that clarify and formalize our reasoning about collections and items. The result is not only a major advance in our theoretical understanding of key features of information organization, but also a source of new strategies for the improvement of tools for managing information resources in an increasingly automated and digital world.
Anne M. Boyd Award/Beta Phi Mu
Presented to Adam Mann by Drs. Christine Jenkins and Michael Twidale:
Adam exemplifies the best traditions of librarianship as a culture of service, helping and incidental teaching, and providing access to information. He has applied these traditional values and philosophical stances to the very modern information access barrier of technological problem solving. His studies, work, and service while at GSLIS embody a new expanding role for LIS in improving the way technology support is and should be done as an updating of a proud service profession.
Joseph Rediger Librarian as Humanist Award
Presented to Julia Pollack by Dr. Kate McDowell:
Julia Pollack’s creativity flourishes in all aspects of library and information science, from her imaginative classroom presentations to her multimedia and performance piece, “A Cabinet of Curiosity: The Library’s Dead Time,” co-created with GSLIS Assistant Professor Bonnie Mak. Her museum informatics project used her humanities expertise to inform a highly innovative design idea that could draw on the potential of the Fluxus Box as an emergent technology. Her work intersects traditional archival research, art/design, the digital humanities, and librarianship. Julia is breaking new ground in her engagement with questions of information and human experience, and we expect her to emerge as a leader in the profession.
Jane B. and Robert B. Downs Professional Promise Award
Presented to Dan Tracy by Dr. Linda Smith:
Daniel Tracy exemplifies the professional promise that is envisioned by the Jane B. and Robert B. Downs Award. Following work as a graduate assistant at both the Chemistry Library and the Undergraduate Library on campus and service as the M.S. representative on the GSLIS Curriculum Committee, he eagerly embraced the challenge of serving as interim library and information science and research support services librarian. He brings fresh energy to this critical role and is setting a high standard in meeting the interdisciplinary information needs of both the University Library and GSLIS.
Faculty Special Award of Merit
Presented to Emma Clausen by Lisa Janicke Hinchliffe and Melissa Wong:
Emma Clausen is one of those unique individuals who brings out the best in others and her community while also pursuing her full potential. From the classroom and student clubs, to the increasing levels of responsibility she has taken on in her graduate assistantships in the University Library, and her engagement with professional conferences (presenting at LOEX twice, as well as serving as an intern at the ILA conference) to her volunteer work (as an INTERLINK mentor for an international student on campus, computer lab volunteer at Shadow Wood Mobile Home Park, and volunteer coordinator for UC Books to Prisoners), she is a credit to GSLIS. She teaches many by her example, and we look forward to watching her soar in her career.
Peggy Harris Award
Presented to Jennie Archer by Drs. Kate McDowell and Rae Anne Montague:
Jennie Archer is the consummate encouraging professional. Her work is sometimes understated, but always efficient and enthusiastic, and she quickly derives practical solutions to professional dilemmas. Many individuals have benefited from Jennie’s work with the Urbana Free Library, the Center for Children’s Books, the TAP-in Leadership Academy, and throughout the GSLIS community. Her extraordinary dedication in conjunction with her outstanding work in classes, such as Youth Services Community Engagement, make her an ideal candidate for this award that highlights services to others and concern for all.
Herbert Goldhor Award for Public Librarianship
Presented to Esther Berland by Drs. Kate McDowell and Carol Tilley:
Esther “Eti” Berland is an extraordinary professional with a promising future in public libraries. In her youth services classes, Eti exceeded expectations, discovering and sharing resources generously. She cultivated fluency with communications technologies—from web design to digital storytelling—and inspired her classmates to push their own work further. She also sought out opportunities to share her course assignments with a broader audience. Eti aspires to work with teens, and this award is our vote of confidence that she will be an inspiring leader and engaging contributor in the field of public library youth services.
Information Systems/Technologies Award
Presented to Ryan Edge by Dr. Jerome McDonough:
The GSLIS faculty recognizes Ryan Edge for his achievements in the area of information systems and technology. With his background in fine arts and printmaking, and his knowledge of metadata and digital curation issues, Ryan is an exemplar of the interdisciplinary individual that GSLIS seeks to cultivate. As one of his colleagues at the library noted regarding his work on digital preservation and the University’s new Hydra repository, we have “benefitted greatly from this technological expertise,” and “not only have we benefitted from his skills, he has also been a great colleague and personality in the unit.” We commend Ryan for his excellent work as a scholar and a practitioner, and we are proud to name him one of the co-recipients of this year’s Information Systems and Technologies Award.
Presented to Jonathan Kuik by Dr. Catherine Blake:
Jonathan Kuik’s mastery with the creative application of information technology to address important problems in a business setting has received praise from both GSLIS faculty and industry leaders. He has demonstrated an extemporary level of professionalism that will serve him well in his future endeavors.
Frances B. Jenkins Award
Presented to Megan O'Donnell by the staff of the Grainger Engineering Library:
Megan O’Donnell came to Grainger Engineering Library in 2011 from an entomology lab in California. Grainger has little offer in the way of insects, and Megan has found new interests in data management plans and scholarly communication in the sciences. She quickly became adept at fielding reference questions, and her contributions to and oversight of Grainger Library’s engineering, physics, and e-book LibGuides are just one example of her dedication to serving patrons. We think Megan has a bright future in science librarianship. She begins her career as scholarly communications librarian at Iowa State University in May 2013.
Library School Alumni Association Award
Presented to Brigitta Denning by Georgeann Burch:
Working as a library aide in three elementary school libraries led Gitta Denning to a career decision that will impact scores of twenty-first century students and teachers. With her M.S. and school library certification in hand, there is no doubt that Gitta will empower students to become skillful researchers, critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, and ethical users of information. Just as important, though, is her ability to advocate for school libraries, which she does with creativity, energy, and passion, exemplifying the “spirit” of librarianship.
Alice Lohrer Awards for Literature and Library Services for Youth
Presented to Kelsey Bates by Drs. Christine Jenkins and Kate McDowell:
The Alice Lohrer Award is given annually to a student with outstanding promise in youth services librarianship. Throughout her time as a GSLIS student, Kelsey Bates demonstrated the “positive, problem-solving attitude” that has been a defining characteristic of exemplary youth services librarianship throughout the profession’s 120+ year history. One instructor noted Kelsey’s “eyes on the prize” focus on acquiring the content knowledge, tech skills, and professional experience needed to serve young people in twenty-first century public libraries. Another instructor succinctly characterized Kelsey’s work with “three descriptors: commitment, focus, and growth.” Through her course work, her practicum, and her work as a LEEP graduate assistant, Kelsey has combined her passion for youth services librarianship and her skills in online technology to craft a sturdy portfolio that will make her invaluable to current and future employers. Congratulations, Kelsey!
Hazel C. Rediger Award
Presented to Franklin Kramer by Dr. Kate McDowell:
Franklin Kramer asks interesting questions in ways that encourage those around him to be curious to learn more. In many of his classes, he raised issues so complex that the discussion often turned to questions of epistemological orientation and what could be known. His work combines intellectual passion with outstanding approachability and friendliness. Working at the Help Desk, he consistently demonstrated kindness, patience, and understanding, as evidenced by notes of appreciation for his work. This award honors “enthusiastic intellectual questioning” and goes to Franklin for his intellectual vitality and his warmth in his ways of asking.
Edith Harris Camp Award
Presented to Amy Atkinson by Dr. Kate McDowell:
Amy Atkinson’s humorous creativity is a hallmark of her professional passion. Her storytelling caused such laughter at last year’s Storytelling Festival that we invited her back to be M.C. this year. She held the show together with panache and style, and the audience’s multiple involuntary guffaws were testament to her great success. In addition, her professional attitude, thoughtful comments and questions in classes, and her commitment to the K-12 program make her a stellar candidate for this award for those who inspire “courage, creativity, art, laughter, and friendship.”
Social Justice Award
Presented to Lucas McKeever by Dr. Emily Knox:
Lucas’s passion for social justice is evident in his many activities at GSLIS. However, it is his work as an intern at the Uniting Pride Center of LGBTQ Resource Center of Champaign County that stands out. It is at the Pride Center where—among his other responsibilities over the past year and a half—Lucas has been working to document and archive the lives of some of the often forgotten individuals who have been integral to the development of a vibrant LGBTQ community here in Champaign-Urbana.
Yingbo Zhou Memorial Fund Award
Presented to Xiaoyu Duan by Dr. Linda Smith:
While completing her master's degree, Xiaoyu Duan contributed in multiple ways while also excelling in her coursework. She acted as the treasurer for the GSLIS Chinese Group and support Chinese visiting scholars and academic librarians during their campus visits through serving as a translator and enabling their use of University Library resources.