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Susan Grey Akers Scholarship Fund
The Alumni Association established the fund upon Dean Susan Grey Akers' retirement to provide a fellowship that assists deserving students admitted to the MSLS degree program and distinguished by evidence of professional promise, character, leadership and high scholastic achievement.
Akers was the first dean of SILS from 1932 to 1954, and she was the first female dean at UNC. Akers spearheaded the foundation of the library school at North Carolina Central University. She was noted for her work, Simple Library Cataloging. Akers maintained an interest in the School, its faculty and its students until her death in 1984 at the age of 95.
Students are eligible for financial aid by meeting the criteria identified for this fund and by answering "yes" to the financial aid section of the SILS application for admission. Awards are merit based, after admission to a program.
To give to this fund, click on "Make Your Gift Now," and scroll down to select Akers Scholarship.
SILS Alumni Engagement Fund
The SILS Alumni Engagement Fund, established by the SILS Alumni Association (SILSAA) in 2005, underwrites special programming that helps SILS students develop as professionals by connecting them with SILS alumni through activities such as:
- Field Experience Exploration events that help students discover relevant field experience opportunities to enhance their professional growth and skills;
- Networking events, connecting students with alumni, that enhance opportunities for mentorship and employment;
- Thematic panels that bring together professional practitioners with students through targeted programming that complements the SILS curriculum.
The School and the SILSAA Executive Board plan and implement this programming, which our students consistently rank as one of the most valuable aspects of the SILS educational experience. You can be proud of what this vital fund is helping our students and the School accomplish.
To give to this fund, click on "Make Your Gift Now," and scroll down to select SILS Alumni Engagement Fund.
Lester Asheim Scholarship Fund
The fund was established upon the occasion of Professor Lester Asheim's retirement to support scholarship awards to SILS students distinguished by ability, as indicated by a sound scholastic record, demonstrable financial need and potential for making a positive professional contribution to the advancement of library and information services and research. First consideration is given to applicants pursuing a doctoral degree.
Asheim came to UNC in 1975 as the first William Rand Kenan Jr. Professor after a distinguished career as Dean of Chicago's Library School (1952-1961) and of the International Relations Office of the ALA (1962-1966). One of his most renowned articles is his argument for collection development titled “Not Censorship But Selection.”
Students are eligible for financial aid by meeting the criteria identified for this fund and by answering "yes" to the financial aid section of the SILS application for admission. Awards are merit based, after admission to a program.
To give to this fund, click on "Make Your Gift Now," and scroll down to select Asheim Scholarship.
Evelyn J. Bishop Scholarship Fund
Through a bequest in Evelyn J. Bishop's will, she created this scholarship fund to support a student admitted to the master's degree program at SILS. Bishop lived in Smithfield, NC, and worked at the Johnston County Public Library.
Students are eligible for financial aid by meeting the criteria identified for this fund and by answering "yes" to the financial aid section of the SILS application for admission. Awards are merit based, after admission to a program.
To give to this fund, click on "Make Your Gift Now," and scroll down to select Bishop Scholarship.
Lisa Burmeister Computer & Information Science Fellowship
Established in 1983, this fund supports a fellowship for a second-year graduate student at SILS. First consideration is given to students concentrating in information science. In 1985, Lisa Burmeister, one of SILS' first information science students, died suddenly of a stroke, and the fund was renamed to honor her memory.
Students are eligible for financial aid by meeting the criteria identified for this fund and by answering "yes" to the financial aid section of the SILS application for admission. Awards are merit based, after admission to a program.
To give to this fund, click on "Make Your Gift Now," and scroll down to select Burmeister Computer & Information Science Fellowship.
SILS Health Informatics Fund
Established in 2010, the Health Informatics Program serves to build new career paths in health information technology. The goal of this program is to provide a strong IT foundation to those interested in improving health care and its services. This fund will help support the goal of the program.
To give to this fund, click on "Make Your Gift Now," and scroll down to select SILS Health Informatics Fund.
Edward G. Holley Student Research Fund
The fund provides student research awards, especially for expenses incurred for research on the master's thesis.
Edward G. Holley is a former SILS dean (1972-1985) and professor emeritus, specializing in history of the book and academic librarianship. During his tenure as dean, Holley implemented the doctoral program at SILS and the internship program with the EPA library, and provided the leadership for the master's program to grow from 36 to 48 credit hours in a time of decreasing resources. He was a William Rand Kenan professor and is the recipient of many of the field's awards, including the 1998 ALISE Award for Professional Contributions to Library and Information Science Education.
Students interested in research support from this fund should speak with their faculty advisor or Tammy Cox in the Administrative Office.
To give to this fund, click on "Make Your Gift Now," and scroll down to select Holley Student Research Fund.
Michael Hooker Graduate Fellowship in Applied Networking
The fund supports a fellowship for SILS graduate students studying the development and management of networked information systems and Internet networking technology.
This fellowship was established in 2000 in memory of the late Chancellor Michael Hooker. In January of 1999, Hooker was interested in support for students who would become the intellectual capital of Cisco Systems and contribute to the growth of the networking industry, especially in North Carolina. Selby Wellman, the former Cisco Systems executive, and Dean Joanne Marshall got together to discuss their ideas of partnering to realize Chancellor Hooker's technology vision. Although Hooker passed away later that same year, Cisco Systems and SILS were able to formalize the partnership in his honor by establishing an endowed graduate fellowship.
Students are eligible for financial aid by meeting the criteria identified for this fund and by answering "yes" to the financial aid section of the SILS application for admission. Awards are merit based, after admission to a program.
To give to this fund, click on "Make Your Gift Now," and scroll down to select the Hooker Fellowship in Applied Networking.
Margaret Ellen Kalp Memorial Fellowship
The fund supports fellowships for SILS students. Master's students will be distinguished by evidence of professional promise and high scholastic achievement. First consideration will be given to students who indicate an interest in work with young people and children. A fellowship for doctoral study may be awarded to a student with a superior record, significant professional contributions and experience working with children and young people.
Margaret Ellen Kalp was acting dean of SILS from 1964 to 1967 and assistant dean from 1973 to 1976. Noted for her deep commitment to the School, Kalp showed equal dedication to the library profession through her work with numerous professional organizations and on numerous committees.
Students are eligible for financial aid by meeting the criteria identified for this fund and by answering "yes" to the financial aid section of the SILS application for admission. Awards are merit based, after admission to a program.
To give to this fund, click on "Make Your Gift Now," and scroll down to select Kalp Fellowships.
Special Fellowship for Library Work with Children and Young Adults
This fellowship was established in 1982 by an anonymous donor to support a student admitted to the graduate program at SILS interested in working with children and young adults.
Students are eligible for financial aid by meeting the criteria identified for this fund and by answering "yes" to the financial aid section of the SILS application for admission. Awards are merit based, after admission to a program.
To give to this fund, click on "Make Your Gift Now," and scroll down to select Special Fellowship for Library Work with Children.
Susan Steinfirst/Gene Story Scholarship
This scholarship was established in 2010 by Gene Story to award graduate support for School of Information and Library Science students specializing in the area of children's literature.
Admitted students are eligible for the scholarship by meeting the criteria identified for this fund which includes academic merit and financial need.
Louis Round Wilson Fellowship
Established by the Dean S. Edmonds Foundation, this fund awards an annual fellowship to a student admitted to the doctoral program at SILS in memory of Dr. Wilson, the founder of the School. The recipient is named the Louis Round Wilson Fellow.
In honoring Dr. Wilson's memory, we remember his enduring words from 1929:
“As part of the program of social welfare now being worked out at Chapel Hill, a library school is needed, where librarians, like lawyers and doctors and teachers, may secure expert professional training. With its magnificent new building as a laboratory for the school, such an institution would not only be in harmony with the program on which the University has embarked, it would offer opportunity through the sending out of trained librarians for the South to tap the vast reservoir of human knowledge.”
Students are eligible for financial aid by meeting the criteria identified for this fund and by answering "yes" to the financial aid section of the SILS application for admission. Awards are merit based, after admission to a program.
To give to this fund, click on "Make Your Gift Now," and scroll down to select Louis Round Wilson Fellowship.
School of Information and Library Science Student Assistantship Fund
Student support is a critical need for the School of Information and Library Science as well as a major priority. The purpose of the School of Information and Library Science Student Assistantship Fund is to provide assistantships to talented SILS students. Competitively awarded, our assistantships currently require a 20-hour work commitment with a faculty member, which gives the student practical work experience in exchange for the financial award. Assistantships are exceptionally beneficial for the student and School.
To give to this fund, click on "Make Your Gift Now," and scroll down to select SILS Student Assistantship Fund.
WiderNetUNC
Two thirds of the worlds’ population does not have Internet access. Whether in a developing country, a U.S. prison or a local poor community, WiderNet@UNC engages SILS and UNC students and faculty to understand and address this critical divide. Expanding access to information and education requires cultural sensitivity, broad perspectives on information technology and behavior and affordable solutions to overcome the significant technological obstacles to online connectivity. WiderNet@UNC is the research and development home of the eGranary Digital Library, an off-line digital library in over 700 institutions worldwide, and an incubator for new ideas to improve information access and use in underserved communities. WiderNet@UNC needs your support to increase the numbers of students conducting research and developing educational programs, to expand SILS education and outreach to information professionals worldwide, and to usher in a new age of information and knowledge sharing that serves billions of who have, up until now, been marginalized.
To give to this fund, click on "Make Your Gift Now," and scroll down to select WiderNetUNC.
