OSU Libraries hosts annual scholarship and award ceremony

April 20, 2026

The Oklahoma State University Libraries recognized student employees with scholarships and awards at its annual ceremony April 14, with more than 60 honorees celebrating alongside students, faculty and staff in attendance.

The Wise Outstanding Student Award was established in 1990 by Dr. James B. Wise and Verena Wise to encourage outstanding performance by student workers in the OSU Library. Recipients are selected from the Dean's Excellence Award for Student Assistants and receive a monetary award.

The 2026-27 Wise Outstanding Student Award recipients are:

Brianna Butler, Security and Facilities
Natalie Kilpatrick, Special Collections and University Archives
Maelynn Nelson, John Rex Cunningham Architecture Library
Renee Vermillion, Access Services

The Dean's Excellence Award for Student Employees recognizes employees across the library who demonstrate meritorious performance. The 2026-27 recipients are:

Adisi Baigude, Library Ambassador
Angelina Barrow, Access Services
Ram Challa, Access Services
Makenna Day, Mary L. Williams Education and Teaching Library
Chris Ginn, Access Services
Grant Harrington, McCasland Maps and Spatial Data
Emma Hastings, College of Veterinary Medicine William E. Brock Memorial Library
Tatiana Naylor, Systems
Hannah Sharp, Access Services
Asha Smith, Government Documents
Hannah Spinks, Dean's Office
Michael Statz, Security and Facilities
Bellamy Stephenson, Special Collections and University Archives
Lilliana Tello-Backing, Library Ambassador

The Wise Distinguished Graduate Fellowship was established by Dr. James and Elizabeth Wise to support students working at the OSU Libraries. Recipients receive a scholarship and are invited to an awards luncheon.

The 2026-27 Wise Distinguished Graduate Fellowship recipients are Avery Engel, Library Ambassador; Grey Baker, Communication Services; and John Harden, Access Services.

Additional scholarship recipients are listed below.

OSU Museum Scholarship

Jade Simmons, Communication Services; Kyra Ellison, Security and Facilities; Riley Perceful, John Rex Cunningham Architecture Library

Dean Sheila Grant Johnson & Dr. Johnny Johnson Library Scholarship

Karson Melton, Access Services; Carlie Capps, Access Services

W. Roy Holleman Memorial Endowed Scholarship

Elaina Johnston, Access Services; Abby Kilgore, Digital Resources and Discovery Services; Lilybeth Springer, Digital Resources and Discovery Services; Matthew Roberts, Access Services; Andie Kowis, Mary L. Williams Education and Teaching Library

Tom Carson Library Scholarship

Kiyana Torabi, Access Services; Payton Roberts, Access Services; Isabelle Cantu, Access Services; Libby Hudson, McCasland Maps and Spatial Data; Keaton Farris, Systems; Andrew Dickson, Systems; Melanie Medina, Digital Resources and Discovery Services; Lilliana Tello-Backing, McCasland Maps and Spatial Data; Makenna Hillburn, Mary L. Williams Education and Teaching Library; Maggie Wheeler, Access Services; Diego Olvera, Access Services

Stefanie Stone Humphrey & Shellie Stone Endowed Library Scholarship

Tanya Avila, Access Services; Hannah Sharp, Access Services; Nathan Andrews, Access Services

Betty R. Roberts Library Scholarship

Chloe Blair, Mary L. Williams Education and Teaching Library; Taskin Khan, College of Veterinary Medicine William E. Brock Memorial Library

Jessie Thatcher Bost Endowed Scholarship

Natalie Kilpatrick, Special Collections and University Archives; Julius Farrow, Special Collections and University Archives; Brooklynn Ross, Special Collections and University Archives

Sheila Grant Johnson Library Scholarship

Brianna Butler, Security and Facilities; Emma Angerman, John Rex Cunningham Architecture Library

Vere S. & Nina L. Shaklee Endowed Scholarship

Evelyn Annis, McCasland Maps and Spatial Data; Robert Leach, Dean's Office; Liberty Tiger-Williams, John Rex Cunningham Architecture Library; Mikeshia Rogers, Security and Facilities; Aidan Smith, Access Services; Addison Webb, Security and Facilities; Christopher Ginn, Access Services; Tayler Glidewell, Access Services; Avery Pate, Digital Archives

Donald F. and Barbara Eileen Low Scholarship

Rayleigh Carter, College of Veterinary Medicine William E. Brock Memorial Library; Ana Parrett, Access Services; Elizabeth Dorsett, John Rex Cunningham Architecture Library; Maelynn Nelson, John Rex Cunningham Architecture Library

Dr. Kathryn and John Williams Endowed Library Scholarship

Tierra Williams, Mary L. Williams Education and Teaching Library; Kazzandra Claus, Digital Resources and Discovery Services

Class of '42 Library Endowed Scholarship

Adisi Baigude, Dean's Office; Alyshea Jones, Access Services; Piper Summers, Access Services

Mary Jane Smothers Memorial Scholarship

Tatiana Naylor, Systems

Support student workers at the OSU Libraries by making a gift toward scholarships like those celebrated at this year's ceremony. Visit the Friends of the OSU Library to learn more.

URL: https://library-dep.okstate.edu/news/latest-news/osu-libraries-hosts-scholarship-award-ceremony

Last Updated: 24 April 2026