School of Information Sciences

Student Awards

The School of Information Sciences is pleased to offer the following awards to students within the School.  These awards, funded through the generosity of alumni, friends, foundations and corporations, are offered to those students who demonstrate academic accomplishments and leadership skills. 

If you have any questions about the Awards listed below, please contact Wesley Lipschultz at [email protected].

Undergraduate Information Science Program

ALCOA Ambassadors Program
Through the generosity of Alcoa Inc., the iSchool is pleased to announce that we offer a number of significant scholarships to students who will improve the population of diversity within the iSchool. the iSchool is one of a select number of institutions to participate in this Scholarship Program, which aims to increase the diversity of the Information Science profession.
Winners: Lauren Mazzotta, Nina Musser, Piti Sinkantarakorn, Melissa Szymanski

Anthony Debons Scholarship
The Anthony Debons Award is presented annually to an undergraduate student for outstanding contributions to the Bachelor of Science in Information Science program. Anthony Debons is a professor emeritus in the Graduate Information Science and Technology Program.
Winner: Jonathan Adams (2010), Travis Stem (2011)

Eli Lilly IT Scholarship Award in School of Information Sciences
The Eli Lily IT Scholarship Award provides scholarship support to outstanding undergraduate students nominated by BSIS faculty members.

Ida M. Flynn Memorial Award
The Ida M. Flynn Memorial Award is given to students in recognition of excellence and outstanding contributions to the BSIS Program. Awardees selected by faculty committee.
Winners: Christina Savinell (2006), Courtney Machi (2007), Jolie Good (2008), Kelly Aderhold (2009), Meredith Moriarty (2011), Hillary Hoover (2012)

Jennifer and Eric Spiegel Book Endowment Fund
The Jennifer & Eric Spiegel Book Endowment Fund is used to support a full-time student in the BSIS Program. Student must have 3.00 or higher GPA. Students in INFSCI 1044 are invited to submit an 500-1000 word essay about Technology and Communications. Awardees are selected by Jennifer & Eric Spiegel.
Winners: Jesse Hicks (2004), Christopher Flyer (2005), Kate Foster (2006), Mitchell Soso (2007), William Robb (2008), Eric Anderson (2009), Ryan Johnston (2010), Veronica Hunt (2011), Tiemoko Ballo (2012)

Graduate Programs

Casimir Borkowski Scholarship
This tuition support is for students studying natural language processing, information retrieval, and/or linguistics in any degree program at the graduate level. The scholarship is named for Casmir Borkowski, former iSchool faculty member who was dedicated to the field of natural language processing and linguistics.

Catherine Ofiesh and Gerald Orner Award
This award established by Dr. Gerald Orner in memory of his wife, an alumna of the School, recognizes an iSchool student who writes the most original and innovative paper in the field of information science as judged by a faculty committee. Three awards will be granted in each academic year.
Winners: Denis Nkweteyim (2004), Stephen Hughes (2005), Peerapon Siripongwutikorn (2005), Adam Zagorecki (2006), Mark Voortman (2006), Rachel Masilamani (2007), Sue Yeon Syn, Jon Walker, Tingting Jiang - (2009), Hammad Iqbal, Tingting Jiang, Mark Voortman - (2010), Steven Nunnally (2011)

Beta Phi Mu Pittsburgh Chapter (BPM-Pi) Scholarship
for the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Information Sciences

The Pi Chapter of Beta Phi Mu was founded at the University of Pittsburgh in 1967. Pi Chapter welcomes new initiates and elects new Chapter officers at an annual fall meeting. Each year Pi Chapter also makes available its Award for Scholarly Achievement to graduate students in the School of Information Sciences. The BPM-Pi scholarship is awarded for up to three (3) graduate students currently enrolled in the School of Information Sciences. This award recognizes a student in the Library and Information Science (MLIS), Information Science (MSIS) or Telecommunications (MST) program track whose achievement in their selected field of study is judged outstanding by the BPM-Pi Chapter officers and/or faculty recommendation. More information about the scholarship and this honor society are available here.

Graduate Information Science & Technology Program

The Allen Kent Scholarship Fund
The Allen Kent Award is presented annually to a graduate student who makes an outstanding contribution to the Graduate Information Science and Technology (GIST) Program. Allen Kent is a Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus in the GIST Program.
Winners: Jon Walker (2009), Sharon Hsiao (2011), Jonathan Grady (2012)

Robert R. Korfhage Award - School of Information Sciences (not offered at this time)
This award recognizes a student who submits the best scholarly paper co-authored with a faculty member. The intent of this award is to encourage more student-faculty collaborative research in the information sciences, something Dr. Korfhage had done so effectively throughout his career.
Winners: Xiaobing Hou (2004 & 2006), Adam Zagorecki (2004 & 2005), Chih-Kuang Lin (2007 & 2008), Mark Voortman (2009), Hassan Takabi (2010)

Scholarship for Service (SFS)
This scholarship opportunity is available only to US citizens. Designed to provide trained professionals to design and develop secure information systems, the SFS program will support students earning their MSIS or MST in the Security Assured Information Systems specialization. SFS provides full tuition, a stipend, conference travel support and a paid summer internship for qualified applicants. Graduates will work for a governmental agency for up-to-two years after successfully completing this program of study.

Information Assurance Scholarship Program (IASP)
The IASP program, administered by the Department of Defense, will provide successful nominees with the full cost of tuition, required fees and books, and a stipend of $19,000 per academic year. Scholarship recipients will undertake internships and civilian employment with the DOD upon graduation.

James G. Williams Scholarship Fund
The James G. Williams Scholarship Fund was created in honor of Distinguished Professor Emeritus, James G. Williams, Ph.D. The scholarship supports an outstanding student enrolled in the MSIS Program. Recipients are nominated by the faculty.

Graduate Library and Information Science Program

The Sarah C. Cohen Award
In honor of his late wife, Sara Cohen (MLIS ’95), Ed Cohen established this endowment for the School Library Practicum Experience (SLCP) to provide awards to outstanding students in the School Library Certification Program (SLCP). Awards are granted to students completing the Practicum, course number LIS 2922.  Awardees are selected by a SLCP committee.
Winners: Timothy Howard (2007), Richard Mistretta (2008), Kathleen Simms (2009), Zachery Wilkerson (2010), Samuel Guarino (2011), Nicole Held (2012)

Margaret Mary Corbett Memorial Award
This award is offered to the student presenting the best LIS dissertation proposal. The Fund was established by friends, graduates, colleagues, and relatives in memory of Margaret “Peg” Corbett.
Winners: Eylem Ozkaramanli (2004), Donghee Sinn (2005), Daniel Joudrey (2005), Fei Yu (2007), Mary Jo Dorsey (2008), Robert Riter (2010), Joel Blanco (2011), Brian Cumer (2012)

The Robert Erwin MLIS Fund
Annual scholarship award for an MLIS student from Western Pennsylvania.  A 3.0 GPA is required.  Qualified candidates will be contacted via e-mail to apply.

Lancour, Immroth, Brewster Award
This award recognizes a LIS student whose achievement in the field of international and comparative studies is judged outstanding by the dean and/or faculty committee.
Winners:
France Alvarado-Albertorio (2004), Essam Mansour (2005), Hea Lim Rhee (2006), Abdulnasir Abdulla (2007), James "Kip" Currier (2008), Reham Al-Essa (2010), Joel Blanco (2011), Janet Ceja (2012), Tonia Sutherland (2013)

The School Library Certification Program Student
The SLCP Student Award is given to students nominated by LIS SLCP faculty who exemplify academic excellence and professional promise as school librarians.  Awardees selected by a faculty committee.
Winners: Amy Eidenshink, Denise Medwick, Rebecca Morris, Mary Kelleher - (2004), Mary Grace Kelly, Erika Frank, Leslie Poston, Kipp Dawson - (2005), Elizabeth Fisher, Wade Burtch, Sue Dobson, Loretta Jackson, Heidi Culp, Karen Fornari - (2006), Bridget Belardi, Karin Kugel, Elizabeth Koch, Tina Tomczak, Lynn Smokovich, Micah Weglinski - (2007), Joseph Prince, Joan Trimble, Merle Vanterpool, Courtney Anderson, Marcia Eisner,
Tim Johnson - (2008), Richard Mistretta, Maureen Staub, Kate Bednar, Valerie Cummings, Patrick Hickey, Paula Lestini, Benoni Outerbridge - (2009), Rebecca Gray, Rachel Brehm, Maureen Carney, Lindsay Downs, Dana Jones, Lauren Kubiak, Candace Smigla - (2010), Patricia McNeill, Kristen Huth, Mindi Maneck, Rachel Nard, Sara Payne - (2011), Steven Burch, Angela Couse, Rebecca Berkey, Sarah Messham, Denise Naumann, Amy Rouzer - (2012)

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Nina C. Brotherton Scholarship
The Brotherton Scholarship was established by the Carnegie Library School Class of 1925 to provide financial assistance to students in the LIS program. Awardees selected by faculty committee.

The Dr. Joan Brest Friedberg Scholarship
To provide scholarship support to a part-time, in-state student enrolled in the MLIS program. The scholarship was established to honor Dr. Joan Brest Friedberg, co-founder of Beginning with Books. Students may apply using the link above.

Margaret Hodges Quasi-Endowed Scholarship
In honor of the late Margaret Hodges, Professor Emeritus, this fund provides a one-time scholarship for a MLIS student who is pursuing a career in children’s librarianship. Students may apply using the link above.

E. J. Josey Scholarship for Minorities in Library Science
In memory of E. J. Josey, Professor Emeritus. Dr. Josey was a pioneer in the field of library and information science, working tirelessly to integrate libraries and the library workforce. This is a one-time tuition scholarship for a MLIS student with potential for academic excellence and leadership in the profession. Students may apply using the link above.

Frank B. and Anne J. Sessa Scholarship
This endowed scholarship is to be used for MLIS students interested in working in Public Libraries and is awarded by a faculty committee.  

Elva S. Smith Scholarship in Children's Library Services
The iSchool may award either a partial or full scholarship to students interested in the Children & Youth Services specializations. Awardees selected by faculty committee.

Elva S. Smith Endowed Scholarship
The Elva S. Smith Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship for three terms of study leading to the MLIS degree. It is awarded to an individual who exhibits potential for contributing to Children & Young Adult services in a public library. Students may apply using the link above.

K. Subramanyam Scholarship for Library and Information Sciences
This scholarship is offered to a LIS student as a reward for academic excellence. Awardees selected by faculty committee.

H.W. Wilson Scholarship
This scholarship supports students enrolled in the LIS program. Awardees selected by faculty committee.

E. Blanche Woolls Endowed Scholarship for Library Scholars
This is a scholarship for a student enrolled in the LIS doctoral program. Awardees selected by faculty committee.

Tung-Li and Hui-Hsi Yuan Family Scholarship
This award provides scholarship support for students in the MLIS and LIS PhD programs, as determined by the LIS program chair. The intent of the Award is to advance leadership in the field of library and informatrion science in China.
Winners: Tingting Jiang (2010), Zhen Yue (2011), Jiepu Jiang (2012)

Graduate Telecommunications & Networking Program

Fritz Froehlich Scholarship
The Fritz Froehlich Award is presented to a student for outstanding contributions to the graduate program in Telecommunications. Recipients are nominated by the faculty. The award is presented annually at spring graduation.
Winners: Shuju Wu (2004), Natthapol Pongthaipat (2005), Arnon Tonmakayakul (2006), Kuang-Chiu (Kevin) Huang (2007), Ryan Fleming (2008), Aylin Aksu (2009), Yuttasart Nitipaichit (2010), Saman Taghavi Zargar (2011),
Liu Cui (2012)

K. Leon Montgomery Assistantship in Telecommunications
This scholarship provides support to a full-time student enrolled in the MST program. Preference is given to students who achieve academic excellence through coursework, research, international focus, and leadership. Students may apply using the link above.

Scholarship for Service (SFS)
This scholarship opportunity is available only to US citizens. Designed to provide trained professionals to design and develop secure information systems, the SFS program will support students earning their MSIS or MST in the Security Assured Information Systems specialization. SFS provides full tuition, a stipend, conference travel support and a paid summer internship for qualified applicants. Graduates will work for a governmental agency for up-to-two years after successfully completing this program of study.

Information Assurance Scholarship Program (IASP)
The IASP program, administered by the Department of Defense, will provide successful nominees with the full cost of tuition, required fees and books, and a stipend of $19,000 per academic year. Scholarship recipients will undertake internships and civilian employment with the DOD upon graduation.

 

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