Three GSLIS students have been selected as 2012 LAMP Scholars. LAMP (LIS Access Midwest Program) is a regional initiative that encourages students from historically and statistically underrepresented groups to pursue careers in library and information science. LAMP provides scholarships, mentoring, and opportunities for professional development to students and also hosts an annual summer institute for its scholars.
Alyne Connie is working towards a master’s degree in library and information science, concentrating on reference and information services, user behavior, information literacy, and digital media. “The program has had a direct impact on the progression of my library career. LAMP is especially valuable as a financial and networking aid and as a springboard into the numerous careers available in LIS,” Connie said. “For me, the best part of LAMP is that it introduces you to a great community in which you can share stories and grow together in the program.”
Tracy Drake is pursuing a master’s degree in library and information science with a focus on data curation, special collections, and academic librarianship. “I feel extremely blessed and grateful to have been chosen as one of the 2012 LAMP Scholars. At the 2012 LAMP Summer Institute in Ann Arbor, Michigan, I had the opportunity to network with current scholars, previous scholars, and various professionals in the field,” she said. “I left Ann Arbor belonging to a community of people who care about one another’s success and value the diversity between us. These experiences, combined with the support of Amani Ayad, Rae-Anne Montague, and Roy Brooks, have given me the foundations for successful completion of the master’s degree and a prosperous career.”
Berenice Vargas is pursuing a master’s degree in library and information science and is interested in data curation and community informatics. “As an undergraduate I was fortunate to have a mentor, and to this day we keep in touch. She mentioned the LAMP program, and the more I looked into library and information science, the more I became intrigued and hopeful that I had found what I was looking for,” Vargas said. “At my first LAMP Summer Institute in 2012, we engaged with an amazing range of information professionals. Learning where these professionals are in their career now and where they were when they first started assured me that I could have a diverse career in LIS. Knowing first-hand the impact a mentor can have in one’s life, I greatly appreciate the access to a network of scholars LAMP offers to underrepresented groups in the LIS field.”
Jose Miguel Ruiz became a LAMP scholar in 2010 as an undergraduate at Illinois, and began his degree work at GSLIS this summer. He is pursuing a master’s degree in library and information science with a focus on public services, specifically the user experience as well as library administration and marketing. “Since 2010, I have been able to participate in a variety of professional experiences provided through the LAMP program. This includes gaining valuable internship experiences at three different library institutions….Other internship experiences have provided the opportunity to work with diverse professionals who have served as mentors and advisors, providing valuable professional knowledge and advice,” he said. “These experiences could not have happened without the support of the LAMP program.”