School Library Journal» scholarship

Abby M. O’Neill Gives $11 Million to Teachers College for Scholarships

SLJ — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:19:39 +0000

Teachers College, Columbia University, announced it has received an $11 million commitment from longtime trustee Abby M. O’Neill to establish a scholarship fund, beginning with an outright $1 million gift. The fund will be used to establish the Abby M. O’Neill Fellowship Program “for outstanding individuals with a strong commitment to teaching,” the college says.

The gift creates a total of 24 fellowships of $35,000 each for students pursuing dual certifications in areas of high need in New York City public schools. The first O’Neill Fellows will arrive at Teachers College this fall to earn dual certification in key areas, such as science/inclusive education, elementary education/bilingual, or TESOL (the teaching of English to speakers of other languages). Through the fellowship program, these candidates will be able to graduate virtually debt-free.

“We’re tremendously excited about this fellowship program as it speaks to the very essence of the TC mission,” said TC President Susan Fuhrman at a luncheon earlier today, at which Mrs. O’Neill was honored for her support of education and Teachers College. “And we’re so grateful for Abby’s service as a trustee and for her wise counsel.”

O’Neill joined the TC board in 2004. Since then, the O’Neills have created a chaired professorship: the George and Abby O’Neill Economics and Education Chair, currently filled by Thomas Bailey, director of TC’s Community College Research Center and the National Center for Post-Secondary Research. Abby O’Neill also has served as a member of TC’s President’s Advisory Council.

Highlights Foundation Creates James Cross Giblin Scholarship

SLJ — Fri, 10 May 2013 21:06:16 +0000

The Highlights Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to excellence in children’s literature, has announced its creation of the James Cross Giblin Scholarship, which aims to honor the talents, contributions, and generosity of the acclaimed children’s book author, editor, and publisher.

Giblin is the award-winning author of over twenty nonfiction books for young readers, including Chimney Sweeps: Yesterday and Today, The Mystery of the Mammoth Bones, and The Amazing Life of Benjamin Franklin, and The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler, which received the 2003 Sibert Informational Book Medal. Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Giblin was editor-in-chief of Clarion Books for twenty-two years, and he remains a contributing editor at Clarion.

James Cross Giblin. Photo courtesy of the Highlights Foundation.

Each year, the scholarship fund will provide access to Highlights Foundation workshops for a number of writers, with a focus on aiding those who have a strong talent and passion for children’s nonfiction.

In addition, the Highlights Foundation has designated $100,000 to be used as a dollar-for-dollar match to multiply the impact of Giblin’s gift.

“This is an incredibly generous scholarship established by an incredibly talented man,” says Kent Brown, executive director of the Highlights Foundation. “We…are not only awed by Mr. Giblin’s body of work and continual devotion to children’s literature,we are also profoundly grateful for his generosity.”

Pictures of the Week: McDaniel College Awards Maryland Teachers Librarianship Scholarships; the Opening Night of Girls Write Now’s Reading Series

SLJ — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 13:43:35 +0000

Please send your pictures of the week to mdar@mediasourceinc.com.

Twelve library science master’s degrees students at McDaniel Collegein Westminister, MD who have been awarded full scholarships, funded by the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program Grant. The students are currently teachers in underserved areas of Maryland.

Ashley Christie reading at the opening night of Girls Write Now’s reading series. In its 15th year, Girls Write Now is the first organization in the country with a writing and mentoring program exclusively for girls. Photo by Ed Gourdine.