2016 VLA Scholarship Winners

The Virginia Library Association is pleased to announce the winners of our 2016 Scholarships. This is the 25th anniversary of VLA providing scholarships to library school students in VA. Each winner receives $2,500.00 for their education. VLA appreciates the support of this program. To make a tax-deductible donation to the Scholarship fund, please click here.

Emily Correa won the Clara M. Stanley Scholarship. Valerie Gaylard and Elizabeth Walraven won the other two scholarships. For more information about our winners, continue reading. 

Emily Correa is this year’s winner of the Clara M. Stanley Scholarship, awarded by the VLA Professional Associates Form (VLAPAF). Emily is currently a Library Assistant at Blue Ridge Community College and is in the MLS program at University of North Texas. She has also worked as a teen programmer at Massanutten Regional Library. Her favorite quote is “I’m not afraid of a challenge,” and she is looking forward to finishing her MLS in December, 2016 and moving forward with her career in librarianship.
Valerie Gaylard is an MLS student at University of North Texas and plans to graduate in May 2017. She is currently a technical services assistant at Rockbridge Regional Library System and has worked in libraries for eight years in both public and academic libraries. Her goal is to become a Technical Services Librarian and to ensure that the library’s data, software, and network structure are providing the best possible service to her community. She is also looking forward to building relationships with other library professionals in Virginia and beyond.
Elizabeth Walraven is an MLIS at San Jose State University and plans to graduate in 2017. She is a 2016 participant of the VLA Leadership Academy. She is a library specialist at Eastern Shore Community College, and also volunteers with the Wachapreague Volunteer Fire Company. She is motivated by student success, and takes pride in serving each patron and teaching information literacy to students. After receiving her degree, she hopes to continue working in a community college setting.

Emily Correa will be recognized at the VLA Professional Associates Conference in Williamsburg, set for May 2, 2016. All of our winners will be featured at the Scholarship and Awards Banquet at the VLA Annual Conference on October 26 at the Omni Homestead resort. We encourage our previous winners of VLA Scholarships to attend. More information will be posted on the VLA website soon.