A scholarship awarded in honor of a dedicated librarian whose service exemplifies excellence and empathy.
Apply NowThe Sharon Campbell Parente Scholarship is named for a beloved User Services Department librarian whose years of professional service to MTSU and the James E. Walker Library have been marked by excellence and enthusiastic service to students, faculty, and colleagues. As the longtime Distance Learning Services Librarian, Professor Parente promotes Walker Library’s formal embedded librarian services, which provide services to online students. She has served as the library’s liaison to multiple academic programs over the years, both in‑person and online. Professor Parente has long been the face of Walker Library’s reference services, skillfully and empathetically assisting students requiring help with their research projects.
A student scholarship in the amount of $500 will be provided to one selected recipient annually.
Students currently enrolled as undergraduates in their junior or senior year or at the graduate level may apply for the scholarship. Students must be enrolled in or have taken at least two online classes at MTSU or must be enrolled in an online degree program at MTSU. Applicants do not need to demonstrate financial need to apply.
Award recipients will be selected by a committee composed of Walker Library faculty and staff. Essays will be judged for grammar and strength in answering the prompts.
Students must be currently enrolled as undergraduates in their junior or senior year, or be a graduate student.
Students must have a minimum 2.5 GPA at the time of application.
Students must be enrolled in or have taken at least two online classes at MTSU, or must be enrolled in an online degree program at MTSU.
Priority is given to students majoring in or enrolled in a degree program in the following departments, schools, or disciplines: Library Science, Social Work, Journalism and Strategic Media, or Communication Studies.
Students must answer three essay prompts and follow all instructions for word count and formatting.
Biographical statement: Please tell us how you came to MTSU and how you chose your major or degree program.
Provide a short reflection on how you have sought assistance in searching for and locating MTSU Library research materials for assignments in your online classes. What were your experiences in using the library resources, whether they were human or electronic?
How would the scholarship help you financially within the next 12 months?
To apply for the scholarship, please follow this link which will take you to an online form:
Deadline for applications: December 15
Scholarship Application LinkScholarship entries will be reviewed by the committee in January 2026 and a recipient announced by the end of that month.
