Scholarship Recipients
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.
Click here to download the application, or pick one up inside the entrance to the library at 550, East Broad Street or by contacting Dr. Jeurald Skotnicki, Friends’ scholarship chairman, at jskotn@verizon.net
Scholarship Q&A
Are the scholarships open to those teaching in Westfield schools?
Yes. Individuals working in Westfield are eligible. If a teacher wanted to take library-related certification classes or courses, he/she could apply for scholarship monies to cover or help cover tuition costs.
What about Westfield residents/employees, even graduating high school seniors, who plan to major in library science or information literacy enroute to a library-related career?
We welcome them to submit applications for studies that will prove beneficial in future library posts.
Can the scholarship money be given to the recipient to use for books, etc. instead of for tuition?
No. The Friends of Westfield Memorial Library will send a check for the scholarship amount to the college or university where the applicant is enrolled.
What about online courses?
As long as the scholarship winners enroll in library-related courses in accredited programs, there is no problem with seeking funds for online classes.
Can an applicant seek a scholarship to pay for a continuing education class?
No. The classes must be taken for undergraduate or graduate credit.
Must applicants have a demonstrated need of financial assistance to secure a scholarship grant?
No. The scholarship committee will look at all aspects of the candidates’ applications in determining who best to choose as recipients.
What is the deadline for sending in an application?
As there is no set deadline, applications will be received throughout the year. It is expected that applicants will send in the forms in time to be considered for the beginning of their anticipated studies
