The Delmar T. Oviatt Library is the core of California State University, Northridge. Faculty and staff members keep it running smoothly to ensure that students receive the resources and assistance they need. The library is also composed of many student employees that are the backbone for faculty and staff.
On March 30, the 2016 Library Student Employee Scholarship reception was held at the Orange Grove Bistro to award 21 student employees with more than $20,000 in aid to help ease the financial weight of college expenses.
Scholarship recipients and family members of the recipients were afforded a unique opportunity to thank the donors that make the annual awards possible at the reception.
Eva Cohen, a multimedia production major, is one of the six recipients of the Ann and David Perkins Scholarship.
“I felt very happy and blessed that they [donors] enjoyed my letter,” Cohen said. “I am planning to use the money to buy Adobe Creative Cloud, which is important for my major.”
Donors Ann and David Perkins are retired librarians and through their donations they remain connected to the Oviatt Library.
“We both feel that student support is very important, especially with the increase in tuition and other educational expenses,” Ann Perkins said. “We plan to continue our support through scholarships for Oviatt Library student assistants.”
Out of the 21 scholarship recipients, two students were awarded two scholarships each, which means double the financial aid.
“I was incredibly surprised, super happy and completely grateful,” said Anastasia Peck, a third-year physical therapy student and recipient of the scholarship. “I first got one [scholarship] and then the other one came in a little bit later. I am just so grateful for the donations.”
Peck was awarded the Friends of the Library Scholarship and the Dr. Bonita J. Campbell WISE Scholarship.
Librarian Emeritus Virginia Elwood-Akers, donor to the Friends scholarship, said “I think that giving money to people who are trying to get an education is the best thing that people can do with their money.”