Print Page | Sign In | Register
CLA Scholarship For BIPOC Students in Memory of Edna Yelland

Scholarship information | Current award recipients | Past award recipients

CLA Scholarship For BIPOC Students in Memory of Edna Yelland

The CLA Scholarship for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) Students in Memory of Edna Yelland encourages and supports students in the attainment of a graduate degree in library or information studies and encourages commitment to the improvement of library services to BIPOC students.

A maximum of three scholarships are awarded each year. Recipients are each awarded $2,500, and one-year student membership to CLA, and honored at the CLA annual conference. Recipients are encouraged to enroll into CLA’s Mentoring Program.

Edna Yelland graduated from the California State Library School in Sacramento, obtained a County Librarians Certificate and served as the librarian for Tuolumne County and then San Mateo County. She later headed the Cutting Branch of Richmond Public Library and, from this position, became executive secretary of the California Library Association from 1947 to 1963. It is in memory of this gracious woman who worked so hard to promote the goals of the association and of the profession that the Edna Yelland scholarships are awarded. A profile of Edna Yelland is available here.

Supporting the Scholarship

The CLA Scholarship for Black, Indigenous, People of Color Students in Memory of Edna Yelland is funded by CLA’s Edna Yelland Scholarship Fund. Contributions to the fund are tax-deductible and will enable CLA to continue supporting BIPOC students and encouraging commitment to the improvement of library services to BIPOC communities in California.

If you would like to contribute to CLA’s Edna Yelland Scholarship Fund, please send your check or money order to the CLA office or use our online donation form.

Submissions for the 2025 Scholarship

The 2025 scholarship application period is now closed.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • Be US citizens (or permanent US residents) and permanent California residents
  • Be enrolled in an ALA-accredited master’s of library and information science or Information studies program and have completed one or more courses
  • Intend to work in a California library upon graduation
  • Be a member of one or more of the following ethnic groups
    • African American, Black, or African
    • Native American, First Nations, or Indigenous to Central or South America
    • Asian
    • Latino, Hispanic or Caribbean American
    • Middle Eastern/North African
    • Pacific Islander/Indigenous to Oceania
    • South Asian
  • Provide a description of your financial need
  • Be available for an interview by the Edna Yelland Scholarship Committee. Individuals may be chosen for an oral interview based upon the merits of the written application.

How to Apply

Applicants should complete the online form and submit the following to CLA:

  • An official record of master’s-level courses completed to date (does not have to be an official transcript)
  • An explanation of your current financial situation (including salary, number of dependents, etc.)
    • This information will remain strictly confidential
  • A list of all scholarships and financial aid for which you intend to apply and/or have been awarded for graduate education
  • The names and addresses of the educational institutions you have attended and, for each institution, your highest degree attained (if any), your years of attendance, and your subject or field of study
  • A list of your employers, dates of employment, and a brief description of your responsibilities for any library experience
  • Information you would like to tell us about any volunteer experiences
  • Names and contact information for two professional references
  • An essay that includes all of the following topics, be grammatically correct, and be 1,000 words or less
    • Tell us about your work or community/volunteer experiences (in or out the library field) which have addressed the concerns and empowerment of diverse communities.
    • How have you worked/innovated to directly address an inequality in underserved and marginalized communities?
    • What skills do you hope to gain from your MLIS studies?
    • How will this scholarship help you achieve your goals and support BIPOC communities?
  • When submitting supplementary files please label your files as follows
    • Yelland_your last name_document (e.g. Yelland_smith_employment)

Current Committee Members

The Edna Yelland Scholarship Committee

  • Chair
    • Sofia Araya, Ontario Public Library
  • Members
    • Mahasin Abuwi Aleem, Oakland Public Library
    • Ziba Perez, Los Angeles Public Library

Further Information

  • The CLA Scholarship for BIPOC students in Memory of Edna Yelland is coordinated by CLA’s Edna Yelland Scholarship Committee.
  • The committee reserves the right to not award scholarships if qualified candidates are not found.
  • Due to the number of applications, the committee is not able to provide feedback.
  • The amount of each scholarship may change depending on available funds and the financial need of applicants.
  • Award recipients will be asked to submit a photograph to be used in award publicity.

2025 Scholarship Recipients

Jennifer Perez Lara, San Jose State University                                   

Jennifer Perez Lara is a proud first-generation Latina from Northern San Diego County. She grew up in a low-income, predominantly Hispanic community, and is the first-born daughter of Mexican immigrants. Despite the challenges of navigating higher education, she graduated Cum Laude from UC Riverside with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, an achievement she considers one of her greatest accomplishments. Currently, she works as a part-time Library Technician at MiraCosta College while pursuing her Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) at San Jose State University. 

 

Jennifer is passionate about serving first-generation, low-income, and Spanish-speaking communities, and hopes to create inclusive environments where marginalized students feel welcome and supported in accessing library resources. She will also be serving on the Library Services Platform (LSP) Circulation Workgroup under the California Community Colleges system, an opportunity she hopes will deepen her understanding of committee and workgroup processes in an academic library setting. Her goal is to pursue a career as an academic librarian, where she can mentor and support students throughout their academic paths. She is very grateful for this scholarship opportunity, since she has limited resources to fund her Master’s education.


Ashley Ramsey, Louisiana State University

 

Ashley Ramsey, a California native, has spent the past six years with Sacramento Public Library transforming libraries into spaces where communities thrive, heritage is honored, and creativity leads to change. From teaching and grief counseling to arts and social services, Ashley brings several years of experience designing inclusive programs that connect residents with their heritage while fostering learning and community engagement. She holds degrees in social sciences, liberal studies, and business management, Summa Cum Laude. She is currently pursuing her Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) at Louisiana State University, specializing in Cultural Heritage Resource Management.

Ashley has spearheaded initiatives that champion access, equity, and representation—ranging from early literacy programs and Black book giveaways in partnership with Panhellenic sororities and fraternities, to mobile STD testing, dental kit distributions, sustainable food gardening classes with the Grower’s Alliance to combat food deserts, and STEAM grants for underrepresented communities. By curating culturally responsive events and fostering community partnerships, she has consistently built trust and expanded impact.

A three-time pageant winner, Ashley merges artistry, strategic vision, and cultural insight to create meaningful change. She is especially passionate about building “Libraries Without Walls,” extending access and connection beyond physical buildings into the heart of the community. As a CLA Yelland Scholarship recipient, she is committed to preserving cultural narratives and inspiring curiosity, learning, and belonging in every community she touches.


Mirna Guiterrez-Saucedo, San Jose State University

 

Mirna Gutierrez-Saucedo began her school library journey in 2018 with a clear purpose: to build a library that reflects and serves all her students. She has actively listened to what students want their library to be and has fiercely advocated on their behalf to make that vision a reality. Her advocacy has earned her school library many grants - a 2021 Laura Bush Foundation Grant, a 2024 REFORMA Noche de Cuentos Grant, and a 2025 Snapdragon Grant. To Mirna, school libraries are far more than book collections—they are spaces where students can feel seen, heard, and empowered. 

 

Mirna's goal is to be a Teen Librarian and continue to advocate for equitable library services. When she's not advocating for her students or immersed in her studies, Mirna enjoys reading, traveling, and discovering new board games. She finds joy in spending quality time with family and friends—especially when it involves teaching or learning collaborative games that bring everyone together. Her partner, Kyle, is one of her greatest supporters and a trusted sounding board for new ideas, and their energetic bull terrier, Heimerdinger, always keeps life interesting.