March 12, 2025

2025 Student Scholarship Recipients

UW Libraries recognizes the achievements of our outstanding student employees through our Student Employee Appreciation Week, and an annual scholarship award, generously sponsored by UW Libraries donors.  On March 5, we celebrated this year’s 50 new scholarship recipients with a reception honoring their amazing contributions.

Library and UW Press student workers represent undergraduates and graduate students from diverse areas of study working across all three UW campuses!

Only 25% of student employees are focusing their studies on libraries and information science. Students who work at the Libraries come different academic interests across all schools and departments.

As one of the largest employers of student workers on campus, our student employees are essential to Libraries’ operations – while they literally keep the doors open, lights on and books on shelves,  they are also peer mentors, writers, designers, marketers, technicians and instructors! We LOVE our student employees, and this year’s scholarship class exemplifies the dedication, creativity and work ethic that our students bring to their jobs every day. 

Some examples student achievements of this year’s class include: 

• creating handcrafted, customized materials in our bookbinding department
• answering thousands of questions at service desks across the libraries
• coordinating delivery of book requests from across the globe into the hands of UW researchers
• making significant contributions to the Libraries web site improvements and ongoing redesign efforts
• creating new systems for training and orientation of new student employees
• a 3D model of library spaces to improve user navigation and engagement
• Producing many student and community-focused events, exhibits and programs
• Enhancing and helping to teach workshops like the UW Libraries High School Internship cohort
• Advising  students and faculty with their technology needs
• AND SO MUCH MORE…

But don’t take our word for it; here’s what our 2025 student scholarship recipients have to say about their experience working with the Libraries*:

“I have gained academic knowledge and experience in a way that a classroom alone can never teach.”

Video: UW Libraries Student Reception featuring remarks from Dean of University Libraries,  Simon Neame; keynote by Associate Dean of Distinctive Collections, Julie Tanaka; and stories from student scholarship recipients Arnav Patnaik and Claire Sheppard.

“Working with book conservation has given me a sense of fulfillment that I have never experienced before…knowing that I am contributing to making physical media more accessible and last longer allows me to see myself as purposeful in the community that I am in.”

“The most unexpected aspect of my experience was the knowledge I gained about the library’s resources, which helped my academic growth tremendously.”

“I am extremely grateful for the resources and information I am able to gain access to as a student worker… What I love most about my job are the people I get to work with who have made coming to work a joy by reimagining what work should look and feel like. Their constant dedication to their craft, the student population, and fellow co-workers continues to astound me. They have fostered a beautiful environment in which I can thrive emotionally, physically, and financially while pursuing my academic desires and dreams.”

“This role has also transformed the way I approach challenges.”

“Managing intricate workflows in the library mirrors the critical thinking I apply in my Economics coursework, particularly in data-driven projects. More importantly, I’ve learned to embrace a growth mindset—seeking solutions and learning from every problem… Libraries are more than repositories of books—they are bridges to opportunity. I am grateful to play a role in building that bridge for others and to carry these lessons into my academic and professional future.”

“Academically, my work at the UW Tacoma Library has served as a live laboratory for learning.”

“Interacting with a diverse group of individuals, I have strengthened my communication skills while also applying the concepts from my coursework to real-world situations. Although on a small scale, the experience has been highly productive and has enriched my academic perspective.”

“This experience has not only enhanced my problem-solving and interpersonal skills but also prepared me to navigate and succeed in any professional setting I may encounter in the future.”

“Since working at the library, I’ve found the confidence to be more social in all aspects of my life. I’ve forged great friendships, ones that I know I’ll have for a lifetime. I never thought that a hushed place such as Suzzallo would bring me out of my shell, but I am so thankful that it gave me the courage to speak, and to allow myself to just be.”

“Working at UW Libraries has provided me with valuable opportunities. My experience at UW Libraries has profoundly impacted my professional development. My role at UW Libraries has encouraged me to explore innovative ways to streamline processes and improve productivity. This experience has motivated me to continue expanding my data science skills, particularly in areas like R and Python, while also focusing on the ethical implications of data use. I can leverage these lessons in my academic work by applying a more nuanced approach to data analysis and visualization, and professionally, by enhancing my ability to support data-driven decision-making in future roles.”

“As I reflect on my time at UW Libraries, I recognize it as a period of substantial growth –personally, academically, and professionally.”

“The skills and values I’ve cultivated here go beyond the walls of the library; they are etched into my approach to my studies, research, and a future career in oceanography and climate sciences. I feel so fortunate that I have been able to serve the UW community and contribute significantly to an institution that stands at the forefront of academic excellence and research.”

“I have learned something new each quarter. I can not wait to learn even more and continue to be a member of this community.”

Congratulations to all 2025 UW Libraries Student Employee Scholarship Recipients!!

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*All quotes are excerpts  from 2025 UW Libraries student employee scholarship application essays submitted by student employees from Seattle, Bothell and Tacoma Libraries and UW Press.