sternheim memorial scholarship

Purpose

The Karen Sternheim Memorial Scholarship was established to provide assistance to a student enrolled in a graduate master's degree program in library and information studies who intends to pursue a career in special librarianship. The $3,000 scholarship is awarded annually by the Southern California Chapter of the Special Libraries Association.

Eligibility Guidelines

An applicant must be a permanent resident of California or Nevada (defined as one whose voter's registration is in California or Nevada and who has a California or Nevada's driver's license or the equivalent). An applicant must be enrolled in an ALA accredited masters degree program in library and information studies or provide proof of acceptance to such a program. However, there is no geographic restriction on the school in which the applicant is enrolled. Each applicant is expected to be a member of SLA, and is strongly encouraged to be affiliated with the Southern California or Nevada chapter. An applicant must demonstrate interest in a career in special libraries.

Procedures

Your application packet must contain three (3) complete sets of the application materials-one set for each judge. All pieces of the application packet must be received by April 11, 2008. The application packet consists of:

All paperwork and deliberations by the Scholarship Committee shall be confidential. Application materials will be accepted by mail. Applications may NOT be sent via e-mail or fax. The use of express mail and overnight delivery services is permitted, but it is the applicant's responsibiilty to ensure that all application materials arrive before or on April 11, 2008. The Scholarship Committee will not consider an incomplete application. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all application materials, including letters of recommendation, are received by the due date. Applicants who have questions about what documents have been received by the committee may contact the committee chair.

Criteria for Evaluation

The Scholarship Committee will evaluate applicants based on their scholastic records, their written statements and the statements in their references. Although transcripts from undergraduate institutions are not required, applicants are asked to indicate their undergraduate GPA on the application form. In addition, the written comments from references, as pertaining to applicants' scholastic abilities will be taken into account. The coherency of the applicant's written statements, including style and grammar, will also be considered in the evaluation process.

Committee

The Scholarship Committee is made up of Peter Johnson, Rita Costello, and Vicky McCargar.

Past Scholarship Recipients

Year Name School
2008 Brett VanBenschoten San Jose State University
2007 Rachel Clarke San Jose State University
2006 Katherine Shilton UCLA
2005 Peggy Shin UCLA
2004 John Juricek UCLA
2003 Christy Thomas UCLA
2002 Natalie Joy Kamper UCLA
2001 Aura Lippincott UCLA
2000 Natasha Bergson-Michelson San Jose State University
2000 Laurie C. Blasingame San Jose State University
1999 Heather Lynne Hepler University of North Texas
1998 Cathy Spitzer University of Texas
1997 Kim Laru San Jose State University
1996 Sharlene Matsuhara Simmons College