2020 Scholarship Winners Announced

The VLA Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce the 2020 scholarship recipients. Congratulations to Sonya Coleman, Amanda Lawson, and Sinead Tanner on their academic excellence and dedication to the field of Library Science. Sonya, Amanda and Sinead have each received $2500 from VLA to help with costs associated with their academic programs. All three will be honored at the Annual Awards and Scholarship Banquet at the VLA Conference in Norfolk in October.

Sonya Coleman

Sonya Coleman has worked at the Library of Virginia since 2011, currently as the Digital Engagement and Social Media Coordinator. Sonya has created innovative ways to involve volunteers and young people in transcribing historical documents. Sonya has been active in community volunteer work as well as holding committee positions in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives organization, and the Visual Resources Association. She says, “I’m very passionate about exposing content in a highly accessible and searchable way.” Sonya has been a member of VLA since 2018 and is earning her MLIS in Digital Libraries from Kent State University. She will graduate in spring of 2021.

Amanda Lawson

The 2020 recipient of the Clara Stanley VLA Paraprofessional Forum Scholarship is Amanda Lawson from Pulaski, VA. Amanda works as a Monographics Specialist in the Collection & Technical Services Department at Radford University’s McConnell Library. She is active in her community and in her free time by volunteering with the Montgomery County Christmas Store and her daughter’s preschool. She participates in a number of professional committees including the Library Display Committee, Faculty Outreach Committee, World War II 75th Anniversary Commemorative Series Committee, and Radford University Staff Senate where she serves as an alternate senator.  Amanda has an outstanding background, including graduating with a 4.0 with her Bachelor’s degree and increasing her responsibilities in her position over the past nine years. She says, “I see library science as an immeasurable pasture of information and librarians as shepherds for those seeking such information.” Amanda joined VLA in 2019. She is obtaining her MSIS degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and will graduate in Spring of 2023. 

Sinead Tanner 

Sinead Tanner has worked as a Library Assistant at Gordonsville Branch Library since 2012. In her position, she has initiated an outreach program of “take and make” crafts, for patrons not able to stay at the library for programs. She says, “I try every day to share the magic of the library with other children as my librarians shared it with me.” Sinead joined VLA in 2020 and is enrolled in the MLIS program through Valdosta State University with an expected graduate date of May 2022.

VLA has been providing scholarships to students pursuing their Master's Degrees in Library and Information Sciences for nearly 30 years. Support this program with a tax-deductible donation today!