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CHICAGO – The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) has awarded a total of 6 students the Bound to Stay Bound and Melcher Scholarships for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Four recipients were awarded the Bound to Stay Bound Books scholarship, which is made possible by Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc. All four recipients will receive $8,000 in scholarship aid for the 2024-2025 academic year. The four recipients are Kelsye Baudoin, attending University of Southern Mississippi; Claire Enk, attending University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Sarah Henckel, attending University of Kentucky; and Shannon O’Brien, attending San Jose State University.

Kelsye Baudoin is a school librarian for Bob Lilly Elementary in Carencro, Louisiana. Claire Enk is a Children’s Associate for the Ela Area Public Library in Lake Zurich, Illinois. Sarah Henckel is a Library Instructional Assistant at the Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, Kentucky. Shannon O’Brien is a Librarian in Training in the Children's Department at the New Milford Public Library in New Milford, New Jersey.

Two students were awarded a Frederic G. Melcher Scholarship, which is made possible by contributions from librarians, professionals and others associated with the field of children’s literature. Each award provides $8,000 in scholarship aid for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Cailey Morgan Kosciuk is a Youth Reference Assistant at the Baldwin Public Library in Birmingham, Michigan, and she is attending Wayne State University. Adrienne Nicole White is a former third grade teacher and is currently attending Texas Woman’s University with plans to be an elementary or middle school librarian.

Each year, ALSC provides the Bound to Stay Bound Books and Melcher Scholarships to help advance the profession of children’s librarianship. Recipients must complete their academic work at an ALA-accredited institution and demonstrate a commitment to library service to children. Recipients are also strongly encouraged to accept or hold positions after graduation in the field of library service to children for at least one year.

“On behalf of ALSC, I would like to congratulate each of the very deserving recipients of this year’s Melcher and Bound to Stay Bound Scholarships,” says 2024-2025 ALSC President Dr. Robert Bittner. “We are excited for each recipient to receive these scholarships to continue their academic pursuits and we look forward to witnessing the resulting contributions to field of children’s librarianship.”

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) is driven by approximately 4,000 members dedicated to the support and enrichment of library service to children. Our members include youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty. ALSC supports its members in engaging communities to build healthy, successful futures for all children. To learn more about ALSC, visit ALSC’s website at .

The ALSC Professional Recognition and Scholarships Committee, charged with selecting ALSC’s scholars each year, include: Elizabeth A. Burns, Susan Dunn, Jacqueline J. Partch, Mrs. Maria Xochitl Peterson, Ms. Rebecca Price-Donahue, Joe Prince, and Mary Schreiber.