Vermont Library Association Scholarship and Awards Committee

This Vermont Library Association (VLA) Scholarship and Awards Committee is charged with overseeing  VLA’s five awards, with defining, overseeing, and funding scholarship opportunities for professional development and graduate studies in library science, and with honoring retirees at the annual conference.

Awards

VLA presents four awards annually for outstanding service to and support of the state’s libraries. Click the link to see past recipients.

To place a name in nomination for these awards, complete the online nomination form listed below:

Nominations for a fifth award, the Senator Patrick Leahy Library Advocate of the Year Award, are provided by the Government Relations & Advocacy Committee.

Scholarships

VLA offers two scholarships.

Professional Development Grant applications are accepted twice a year (spring and fall), and priority is given by monetary need, library involvement, leadership, and commitment to Vermont libraries.

Graduate Student Scholarship applications are due by November 15 each year, with the scholarship sent to the institution for the spring semester.

Honoring Retirees

VLA honors retiring members at the annual conference. Email the Scholarship and Awards Committee chairperson with their name, library, and position.

Scholarship and Awards Committee Chairperson

Pamela Cartier
Coordinator, Community Legal Information Center (CLIC)
Vermont Law and Graduate School’s Julien and Virginia Cornell Library
164 Chelsea Street, P.O. Box 96
South Royalton, VT 05068
(802) 831-1440
pcartier@vermontlaw.edu

Professional Development Grant Recipients

Fall 2025

Marie Schmukal (she/her), director of Warren Public Library, to attend The Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) conference.

Jennifer Johnson (she/her), director of Hitchcock Memorial Museum and Library, to attend the New England Library Association (NELA) conference.

Fall 2024

Susan Larson, MLIS, (she/they), to attend the University of Wisconsin Information School’s online series on A.I. and Libraries.
Susan has volunteered with VLA’s Digital Communications Team since 2020, worked at Deborah Rawson Memorial Library, and now Fletcher Free Library.

Amy Williams (she/her), assistant director at Rutland Public Library, toward the Library Leaders in New England (LLINE) Strategic Library Leadership Development Program.

Fall 2023

No applicants.

Fall 2022

Natacha Liuzzi

a smiling white woman with curly hair standing behind a stack of books

Erin Davison

Natacha Liuzzi, children’s specialist at South Burlington Public Library, to attend the six-week online Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) online course “The Newbery Medal: Past, Present and Future.”

Erin Davison, youth services librarian at Norwich Public Library, to attend the New England Library Association (NELA) annual conference.

Spring 2022

Bree Drapa

Bree Drapa

Bree Drapa, director of Westford Public Library, to attend the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) conference. Bree is part of the Association of Rural and Small Libraries Outstanding in Their Field Leadership Institute.

Fall 2019

Margaret Woodruff, director of Charlotte Library, to attend the Library Juice Academy class “Incorporating Sustainability into Information Literacy, Library Programs, and Library Organizations”.

Abigail Maier Johnson, children’s librarian at Cobleigh Library in Lyndonville, to attend the Library Juice Academy class “Technology, Literacy, and Young Children: Media Mentorship for Newborns to Five-Year-Olds and Their Families.”

Read Abby’s report on Media Mentorship with Our Youngest Library Users and Their Families

Graduate Student Scholarship Recipients

2026

Maegan Winters (she/her), director of Royalton Memorial Library, to be used toward her MLIS.

Christine Walton (she/her), director of Arvin A. Brown Public Library, to be used toward her MLIS.

2025

Ellis Townsley (he/him), assistant librarian at Dover Free Library, to be used toward his MLIS.

Tiaunna Leddick (she/her), young adult librarian at Rutland Free Library, to be used toward her MLIS.

2024

Reilly Grant, (she/her), ILL coordinator at Burnham Memorial Library, to be used toward her MLIS.

2023

2022

Wendy Sharkey

The VLA Scholarship and Awards Committee is pleased to announce that the 2022 Graduate Student Scholarship was awarded to Wendy Sharkey. Wendy was born and raised in England and still has a bit of an accent even after living in Bennington, Vermont, for 30 years. When she first came to Vermont, she was unable to work, so she volunteered at the library. Volunteering became part-time work, then part-time became more time until she became a full-time employee. Wendy is currently head of circulation, IT, and the lone cataloger, enjoying her 24th year at Bennington Free Library.

Wendy’s background is in engineering. She earned a Masters in Applied Mechanics almost 40 years ago, and started her career working for British Aerospace and Jaguar Cars. Wendy has a passion for problem solving and an eye for detail, and both of these attributes have helped in her current position. Life is always offering opportunities, and Wendy is a firm believer in grabbing them with both hands, and embracing them.  Because of this belief, she is pursuing a Masters in Library Science at the University of North Texas.

Updated April 19, 2026.