Nine of the School’s master’s students have been named 2016-2017 Spectrum Scholars by the American Library Association (ALA). Established in 1997, the Spectrum Scholarship Program was created to promote diversity among graduate-level library school students. Each master's-level scholar receives $5,000 as well as over $1,500 toward professional development opportunities. In addition, the iSchool provides each scholar with a tuition waiver. Illinois residents who are recipients of the Spectrum Scholarship also receive a grant from the Sylvia Murphy Williams Fund, given by the Illinois Library Association (ILA).
The Spectrum Scholarship recipients at Illinois are:
- Rebecca Arriola
- Elisandro Cabada
- Ariel Erbacher (Gordon Scholar)
- Jesus Espinoza
- Jasmine Kirby
- Nisha Mody
- Araceli Moreno
- Theodore Quiballo
- Alison Rollins (ALSC Scholar)