Seven GSLIS master's students have been named 2015 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 from the ALA as well as over $1,500 toward professional development opportunities. In addition, GSLIS 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:
- Vivian Alvarez (ALSC Scholar in honor of Ellen Fader)
- Anna Buck
- Ariel Gonzalez
- Erik Ponder (ProQuest Scholar)
- Jennifer Smith
- Alice Son (YALSA Scholar)
- Brittany Viesca (Giles Scholar)