Florida State University School of Information graduate student Camille Thomas received a 2014-15 Spectrum Scholarship awarded by the American Library Association’s Office of Diversity on June 24.

Thomas, a Master of Science in Library & Information Studies (MLIS) student, is one of 50 exceptional library and information graduate students to earn the award.

A committee of seven jurors selected this year’s Spectrum Scholars based on their commitment to diversity, commitment to entering the library profession, demonstrated community outreach, academic ability and achievements and leadership potential.

The Spectrum Scholarship program recruits and provides scholarships to American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students to assist them with obtaining a graduate degree and leadership positions within the profession and ALA.  The aim is to increase the number of racially and ethnically diverse professionals in the field of library and information science to best position libraries at the core of today’s culturally diverse communities.

Last fall, Thomas was selected as a fellow by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Career Enhancement Program, which gives MLIS students from traditionally underrepresented racial and ethnic groups an opportunity to jump-start their careers in research libraries by providing a robust fellowship experience that includes an internship in an ARL member library.