Flossmoor Resident Gets Western Illinois University Scholarship

FLOSSMOOR, IL — A Flossmoor resident has been awarded the William H. and Eva Little Graham Libraries' Student Assistant Scholarship at Western Illinois University (WIU), according to the university.

Students Samuel Ogali (Flossmoor) and Hannah Akers (Cambridge) have been chosen as the 2020-21 recipients of the award. Both students are employees at University Libraries and will each receive the $500 scholarship for the Spring 2021 semester, the university said.

The university said scholarship is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated excellence in the performance of their assignments, and the funds are applied to the selected students' tuition.

Ogali is a junior, majoring in multimedia journalism and minoring in theatre. He was hired in the digitization department of the Malpass Libraries' Resource Management Services Unit in September 2019. He plans to graduate in May 2022, according to the university.

His supervisor Julia Thompson said, "Sam is always ready to help another student. Whenever a discussion is taking place, he has a valuable opinion or perspective, and I have never once heard him say an unkind word; instead, he is unfailingly supportive. Sam is a dedicated worker and asks for assistance when needed, and I would trust him to take on some of the more difficult jobs without hesitation. His responsibility is just one of his many great qualities."

Akers is a junior early childhood education major. She was hired in the digitization department of the Malpass Libraries' Resource Management Services Unit in October 2018. She plans to graduate in May 2022.

Thompson said, "Her time at Western has given her an outlet for self-expression and I know that she deeply appreciates it. She has made friends and connections for life at WIU, and her gratitude for this and her educational opportunities is expressed in her dedication to excellence in all walks of her life."

Additional information and past winners of the William H. and Eva Little Graham Libraries' Student Assistant Scholarship can be found here.

"We are delighted to be able to offer scholarships to these hard-working and deserving student assistants, especially this year when they've had to adapt to strange working conditions," said Interim Dean of University Libraries Jeanne Stierman.