Alumnus Allen Lanham (MS '91) has been named an Illinois Library Luminary by the Illinois Library Association (ILA). This distinction honors individuals whose efforts have made a significant contribution to Illinois libraries.

Each year, the School 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 School's Convocation ceremony on May 15, 2016.

Alumna Barbara J. Ford (MS '73) has been named an Illinois Library Luminary by the Illinois Library Association. This distinction honors individuals whose efforts have made a significant contribution to Illinois libraries. As director of the Mortenson Center for International Library Programs and Mortenson Distinguished Professor at the University Library, Ford brought librarians from all over the world to programs and events statewide.

Affiliated faculty member Clara Chu is the recipient of the 2015 Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA) Distinguished Service Award. This award is given annually to a CALA member demonstrating outstanding leadership and achievement in library and information service at the national or international level. It is the association's highest honor.

GSLIS alumna Erin Prentiss (MS ’12) is the recipient of the 2016 Professional Development Grant sponsored by the American Libraries Association (ALA) New Members Round Table (NMRT).

Jarrett Dapier (MS '15) has been selected by the Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) of the American Library Association (ALA) to receive the 2016 John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award for defending the principles of intellectual freedom.

GSLIS doctoral student Kirstin Phelps has been selected by the Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO) to receive one of ninety Scholar Awards given in the United States and Canada. PEO Scholar Award winners are a select group of women chosen for their high level of academic achievement and potential to positively impact society.

The year’s best comics and graphic novels will be honored with Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards in July at Comic-Con International in San Diego. Carol Tilley, a University of Illinois associate professor of library and information science, is one of six judges selecting the comics that will appear on the awards ballot in more than two dozen categories.

Assistant Professor Nicole A. Cooke is the 2016 recipient of the American Library Association (ALA) Equality Award. The annual award is given to an individual or group for outstanding contributions toward promoting equality in the library profession.

The History Section of the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) has selected two GSLIS alumni as the winners of its achievement awards honoring librarians and their contributions to the fields of genealogical and historical research and services.