2020-2021 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT EMPLOYEES OF THE LIBRARIES
LOUIS BARKER
MEGAN CHRISTIANSON
Music major, focused on violin and chamber music Shubert, NE
International Relations major Carthage, MO
Louis Barker is the recipient of a Benton Family Music Library Student Employee Scholarship. Louis works in the Rita Benton Music Library.
Megan Christianson is the recipient of a UI Libraries Student Employee Scholarship. She works in Cataloging & Metadata at the Main Library.
“Working in the Libraries has helped me learn how to better interact with people and problem solve, both of which are very important in chamber music.
“My work at the UI Libraries has given me the opportunity to practice time management, interpersonal communication, and use of workplace technologies. These skills are transferable to almost any future workplace.
This work has helped me to grow my ‘people skills’ significantly in both in-person and virtual formats. It has been wonderful to learn how to interact with relative strangers in a meaningful and helpful way. I am continually surprised by how open my supervisors are to creating meaningful change. Libraries have always been a great example in my mind of accessibility, and I am very grateful to have supervisors who are excited to make that even more true. This scholarship will help me to fund the last semester of my undergraduate education. It also serves as a nice reminder of the importance of the equity work I get to do through the libraries.”
6
WINTER 2021
Throughout my employment at the Libraries, the most important thing I have learned about myself is how much I value certain intangible aspects of the places I am employed, particularly the workplace’s culture, opportunity to develop skills, and compatibility with my goals for the present and future. I've ended up helping with many more projects and odd jobs than I was originally hired for— it has been fascinating to see the range of work that is done in the Libraries! Earning this scholarship has allowed me keep my focus on my academics, rather than worrying about financial stress brought on by COVID-19.”
