2026 Scholarship Application – Available Now

The Friends of the Westfield Memorial Library offer scholarships to those pursuing education related to Library Sciences. This includes information sciences. The scholarships are available to those residing or working in Westfield. Recipients will receive scholarships in an amount that is dependent upon the number of applicants and/or scholarships granted. The funds will be used to help pay tuition costs for credit- bearing undergraduate or graduate courses tied to current or future library work. Scholarship monies will be sent directly to the educational institution where the recipient will take the course(s). Any questions should be directed to Mary Ellen O’Boyle at meob19@gmail.com.

2026 Friends Scholarship Application

Scholarship & Awards Recipients

2026

Scholarship Committee Member Audrey Zavetz, Jocelyn Ng, Scholarship Recipient, Scholarship Committee Members Jerry Skotnicki & Mary Ellen O’Boyle

The 2026 Friends’ High School Volunteer Service Award was presented to Jocelyn Ng a Senior at Westfield High School. This award is presented to a high school senior who resides in Westfield who exemplifies volunteer service, beyond normal extracurricular activities, in promoting literacy, supporting the Westfield Memorial Library or working with the Friends on one or more of their projects. In addition to volunteering at the library, Jocelyn most recently assisted at the Friends’ Annual Spring Book Sale. The award provides a stipend of $500 which the recipient may use for any purpose.

2025

In June 2025,  the Awards/Scholarship Committee of the Friends of the Westfield Memorial Library awarded $500.00 each to three WHS Seniors. The awards were given to Alexandra Laguna, Katie Makely, and Jake Park at Westfield High School’s Senior Awards Night. The recipients were selected based on their volunteerism at Friends events (such as the adult book sale, children’s book sale and/or the puzzle sale) as well as their participation in activities and programs relevant to Literature, Writing, and/or Technology Science. The awards are open to all high school Seniors regardless of the school in which they attend and they are publicized through Social Media, the Friends Newsletter, local news outlets, and the applications are posted in the Westfield Memorial Library. In addition the WHS Guidance Department received a copy of the application to post. The Awards/Scholarship co-chairs were Mary Ellen
O’Boyle, Dona Teschner, and Audrey Zavetz.

Pictured are recipients Alexandra Laguna, Jake Park and Katie Makely with Scholarship & Awards Committee Chair Audrey Zavetz

2024

Ms. Fahrenbach is a third generation Westfielder. She graduated from Westfield High School, then received a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies from Pennsylvania State University.  Meg is currently enrolled in the Masters of Information in School Librarianship at Rutgers University. She is taking two courses required in the School Librarianship Track and are core requirements for certification as a K-12 school librarian:  1) Leadership, Management and Evaluation of School Libraries and 2) Masters Level Field Experience in a school library. In the latter course, Ms. Rachel Kennedy (also, former Friends’ Scholarship recipient) is serving as Megan’s mentor at Franklin School.

Ms. Szilagyi currently works in the Reference Department as an Intern /Reference Librarian at the  Westfield Memorial Library. She has previous library experience at the Garwood Public Library. Nadia received a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and French from Montclair State University in 2023.  Nadia is a full time student in the ALA -accredited Masters of Library and Information Sciences program at Drexel University. In the summer quarter #4 of 5), she is taking three required courses:  1) Digital Library Technologies; 2) Academic Library Service;  3) Capstone Project.

2022

The most recent recipient is Dana Rosen-Perez, a Westfield librarian who completed a graduate course in children’s literature at Rutgers as a way of enhancing her own knowledge of the genre.“We encourage individuals eligible for scholarships to apply and take courses that will assist them in library work,” said Dr. Tina Lesher, scholarship committee chairman of the Friends.

2019

We are proud to announce our recent Scholarship Recipients,  Rachel Kennedy and Gillian D’Ambrosio Both are Westfield School District employees and second-time recipients of scholarships from
The Friends of the Library.

Rachel Kennedy, school library media specialist at Franklin Elementary, will uses the funds to cover
tuition for a Rutgers course that is part of a program in which Kennedy will earn a certificate in
educational technology. Kennedy, whose work includes instructing students in subjects related to tech
ology, previously won a Friends’ scholarship for a grant-writing course.

Gillian D’Ambrosio works as a paraprofessional in the Westfield schools and last year was awarded
scholarship funds to cover a course in the master of information science program at Rutgers. The
second scholarship will be used toward her spring semester costs. D’Ambrosio, who has worked as a
journalist, plans on becoming “a librarian who can nurture a love of literature and reading among
children.”

 2026 High School Volunteer Service Award Application – Available Now

The Friends are proud to offer The High School Volunteer Service Award. This award is designed to recognize the exceptional volunteer service of students during their high school careers and is open to all Westfield residents who are currently high school seniors.

Please complete the 2026 Friends High School Volunteer Service Award Application and submit the application by Sunday, April 12, 2026. Applications can be dropped off at the  Westfield Memorial Library circulation desk in an envelope addressed to: ATTN: FWML Awards Committee. To email your application, include FWML Award 2026 in the subject line and send to friendswestfieldlibraryawards@gmail.com.

Scholarship & Awards Recipients

2025

In June 2025,  the Awards/Scholarship Committee of the Friends of the Westfield Memorial Library awarded $500.00 each to three WHS Seniors. The awards were given to Alexandra Laguna, Katie Makely, and Jake Park at Westfield High School’s Senior Awards Night. The recipients were selected based on their volunteerism at Friends events (such as the adult book sale, children’s book sale and/or the puzzle sale) as well as their participation in activities and programs relevant to Literature, Writing, and/or Technology Science. The awards are open to all high school Seniors regardless of the school in which they attend and they are publicized through Social Media, the Friends Newsletter, local news outlets, and the applications are posted in the Westfield Memorial Library. In addition the WHS Guidance Department received a copy of the application to post. The Awards/Scholarship co-chairs were Mary Ellen
O’Boyle, Dona Teschner, and Audrey Zavetz.

Pictured are recipients Alexandra Laguna, Jake Park and Katie Makely with Scholarship & Awards Committee Chair Audrey Zavetz

2024

Ms. Fahrenbach is a third generation Westfielder. She graduated from Westfield High School, then received a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies from Pennsylvania State University.  Meg is currently enrolled in the Masters of Information in School Librarianship at Rutgers University. She is taking two courses required in the School Librarianship Track and are core requirements for certification as a K-12 school librarian:  1) Leadership, Management and Evaluation of School Libraries and 2) Masters Level Field Experience in a school library. In the latter course, Ms. Rachel Kennedy (also, former Friends’ Scholarship recipient) is serving as Megan’s mentor at Franklin School.

Ms. Szilagyi currently works in the Reference Department as an Intern /Reference Librarian at the  Westfield Memorial Library. She has previous library experience at the Garwood Public Library. Nadia received a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and French from Montclair State University in 2023.  Nadia is a full time student in the ALA -accredited Masters of Library and Information Sciences program at Drexel University. In the summer quarter #4 of 5), she is taking three required courses:  1) Digital Library Technologies; 2) Academic Library Service;  3) Capstone Project.

2022

The most recent recipient is Dana Rosen-Perez, a Westfield librarian who completed a graduate course in children’s literature at Rutgers as a way of enhancing her own knowledge of the genre.“We encourage individuals eligible for scholarships to apply and take courses that will assist them in library work,” said Dr. Tina Lesher, scholarship committee chairman of the Friends.

2019

We are proud to announce our recent Scholarship Recipients,  Rachel Kennedy and Gillian D’Ambrosio Both are Westfield School District employees and second-time recipients of scholarships from
The Friends of the Library.

Rachel Kennedy, school library media specialist at Franklin Elementary, will uses the funds to cover
tuition for a Rutgers course that is part of a program in which Kennedy will earn a certificate in
educational technology. Kennedy, whose work includes instructing students in subjects related to tech
ology, previously won a Friends’ scholarship for a grant-writing course.

Gillian D’Ambrosio works as a paraprofessional in the Westfield schools and last year was awarded
scholarship funds to cover a course in the master of information science program at Rutgers. The
second scholarship will be used toward her spring semester costs. D’Ambrosio, who has worked as a
journalist, plans on becoming “a librarian who can nurture a love of literature and reading among
children.”

Scholarship Program

Friends of the Library are accepting ongoing applications for its scholarships, which are designed to assist individuals who wish to further their studies in library-related fields.

Those eligible are Westfield residents or those working in the town, such as teachers in the local schools or library employees. Scholarships, of $1,000 or more will be offered, with the monies going directly to the educational institution where a recipient is enrolled in a credit-bearing course.

You can pick one up inside the entrance to the library at 550, East Broad Street or by contacting the Scholarship Committee at info@fwmlnj.org.

 2026 High School Volunteer Service Award Application – Available Now

The Friends are proud to offer The High School Volunteer Service Award. This award is designed to recognize the exceptional volunteer service of students during their high school careers and is open to all Westfield residents who are currently high school seniors.

Please complete the 2026 Friends High School Volunteer Service Award Application and submit the application by Sunday, April 12, 2026. Applications can be dropped off at the  Westfield Memorial Library circulation desk in an envelope addressed to: ATTN: FWML Awards Committee. To email your application, include FWML Award 2026 in the subject line and send to friendswestfieldlibraryawards@gmail.com.

Scholarship & Awards Recipients

2025

In June 2025,  the Awards/Scholarship Committee of the Friends of the Westfield Memorial Library awarded $500.00 each to three WHS Seniors. The awards were given to Alexandra Laguna, Katie Makely, and Jake Park at Westfield High School’s Senior Awards Night. The recipients were selected based on their volunteerism at Friends events (such as the adult book sale, children’s book sale and/or the puzzle sale) as well as their participation in activities and programs relevant to Literature, Writing, and/or Technology Science. The awards are open to all high school Seniors regardless of the school in which they attend and they are publicized through Social Media, the Friends Newsletter, local news outlets, and the applications are posted in the Westfield Memorial Library. In addition the WHS Guidance Department received a copy of the application to post. The Awards/Scholarship co-chairs were Mary Ellen
O’Boyle, Dona Teschner, and Audrey Zavetz.

Pictured are recipients Alexandra Laguna, Jake Park and Katie Makely with Scholarship & Awards Committee Chair Audrey Zavetz

2024

Ms. Fahrenbach is a third generation Westfielder. She graduated from Westfield High School, then received a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies from Pennsylvania State University.  Meg is currently enrolled in the Masters of Information in School Librarianship at Rutgers University. She is taking two courses required in the School Librarianship Track and are core requirements for certification as a K-12 school librarian:  1) Leadership, Management and Evaluation of School Libraries and 2) Masters Level Field Experience in a school library. In the latter course, Ms. Rachel Kennedy (also, former Friends’ Scholarship recipient) is serving as Megan’s mentor at Franklin School.

Ms. Szilagyi currently works in the Reference Department as an Intern /Reference Librarian at the  Westfield Memorial Library. She has previous library experience at the Garwood Public Library. Nadia received a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and French from Montclair State University in 2023.  Nadia is a full time student in the ALA -accredited Masters of Library and Information Sciences program at Drexel University. In the summer quarter #4 of 5), she is taking three required courses:  1) Digital Library Technologies; 2) Academic Library Service;  3) Capstone Project.

2022

The most recent recipient is Dana Rosen-Perez, a Westfield librarian who completed a graduate course in children’s literature at Rutgers as a way of enhancing her own knowledge of the genre.“We encourage individuals eligible for scholarships to apply and take courses that will assist them in library work,” said Dr. Tina Lesher, scholarship committee chairman of the Friends.

2019

We are proud to announce our recent Scholarship Recipients,  Rachel Kennedy and Gillian D’Ambrosio Both are Westfield School District employees and second-time recipients of scholarships from
The Friends of the Library.

Rachel Kennedy, school library media specialist at Franklin Elementary, will uses the funds to cover
tuition for a Rutgers course that is part of a program in which Kennedy will earn a certificate in
educational technology. Kennedy, whose work includes instructing students in subjects related to tech
ology, previously won a Friends’ scholarship for a grant-writing course.

Gillian D’Ambrosio works as a paraprofessional in the Westfield schools and last year was awarded
scholarship funds to cover a course in the master of information science program at Rutgers. The
second scholarship will be used toward her spring semester costs. D’Ambrosio, who has worked as a
journalist, plans on becoming “a librarian who can nurture a love of literature and reading among
children.”