Koval Scholarship supports students in more ways than one

When Ed Koval created the Anna Mae Koval Scholarship at GSLIS in honor of his late wife, he knew that the financial support for students would help them achieve their educational and career goals. The gift, however, is providing more than just financial support. It is proving inspirational as well.

IMG_4401.JPG?itok=beFU73sP Anna Mae Koval inspired countless young readers as a librarian and storyteller during her career. Her legacy continues to inspire others through scholarships for future librarians like master’s student Hailley Fargo. “The Koval Scholarship really motivates me,” said Fargo, one of four students who is currently receiving this support. “Being a recipient fuels me to keep pushing myself to do as best as I can.”

In her first year at GSLIS, Fargo was able to pursue her interests in community informatics and working with youth. As a member of the Digital Literacy for ALL Learners project, she taught elementary students important digital literacy skills at the Urbana Neighborhood Connections Center.

“I really appreciate the financial support—to be able to pursue something that I’m really interested in and be able to focus more on school, the experience, and the professional side of things as opposed to worrying about how many loans I have to take out,” she said.

Fargo plans to graduate in May 2016 and hopes to work with youth in a public library. She and her fellow 2014-2015 Koval Scholarship recipients were the first students to receive funding from this generous gift.

Visit our Giving page to learn more about student scholarships.

Tags:
Updated on
Backto the news archive

Related News

Sanders joins Academic Affairs

Rachael Sanders joined the iSchool last month as office manager for Academic Affairs. In her new position, she will work closely with faculty, staff, and university administration to ensure accurate scheduling and efficient course management for the iSchool's undergraduate programs.

Rachael Sanders

Dismissal of the Librarian of Congress and the Register of Copyrights

On May 8, 2025, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden was dismissed from office. On May 10, 2025, Shira Perlmutter, the Register of Copyrights and director of the Copyright Office, which is part of the Library of Congress, was also terminated. These unexpected decisions raise grave concerns for research libraries, including the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library, and for the national infrastructure that supports scholarship, access to knowledge, and preservation of cultural heritage.

Jones to deliver iSchool Convocation address

M. Cameron Jones (PhD '10) will deliver the 2025 iSchool Convocation address on Sunday, May 18, from 1:30-3:00 p.m. at the Activities and Recreation Center. For those who would like to watch the ceremony online, live video will be available as well as archived for future viewing.

M. Cameron Jones