Madeleine Wiggins

Madeleine is currently enrolled at USF and is 27 credits into her degree program; she will graduate in December 2024 from USF. At USF she serves as vice-president of the Student Organization of Library and Information Sciences (SOLIS). She has been with the Manatee County Public Library System (MCPL) since 2016 when she began working as a teen volunteer. She spent over six years as a volunteer at a MCPL during which she also served as president of their Teen Advisory Board. In 2022 she began working as a library assistant in the MCPL system and has continued to work there since.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:

"This scholarship means so much to me. It will help me achieve my professional goals and give back to my community as a librarian. I am honored to receive the Bernadette Storck University of South Florida scholarship, and I am so grateful to my family, friends, co-workers, and everyone who has supported me and my professional goals. I could not have received this honor without their support."

Briana Thomas

Briana Thomas was born and raised in Belle Glade, Florida. Thomas is the youngest of a blended family of six. With a love of reading that began at a young age, Briana has always loved libraries. So, when the opportunity came up to be a student employee at her local library in Belle Glade, she took it. Fast forward five years and Briana is still working in Palm Beach County as an Library Associate, now with the goal of becoming a librarian. She will be graduating from Florida State University this summer with her Masters of Science in Information.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS: "

"As a African-American, winning the FLA Minority Scholarship really solidifies the support that the Florida Library Association has of people of color that are in the information profession. The funds from this scholarship will be a huge help towards my last stretch of classes this summer of 2024. I am very excited to start my library career with Palm Beach County Library System and it means a lot that the Florida Library Association saw value in me as a future librarian."

Michael Coby

Michael is originally from Birmingham, AL and is a recent graduate of Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL where he graduated with dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Music and English - Editing, Writing & Media. He is currently a graduate student at FSU where he is working towards his Master of Science in Information. He also works full-time as a Librarian Specialist at the State Library of Florida and has previously worked as both an Archives Assistant at the State Archives of Florida and as the Music Director at FSU’s alternative college radio station, WVFS Tallahassee 89.7 FM.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS: "

"I am incredibly grateful to the Florida Library Association for offering me this very generous scholarship. During my undergraduate years, I struggled to find a career path that would enable me to adapt my love of music and collections into something that could afford me an honest living. Being a librarian and working toward a specialization in music librarianship has brought me more joy in a career than I ever thought possible, and this scholarship provides me with resources to follow those dreams and a renewed confidence that libraries are exactly where I am meant to be."