Friends of SMU Libraries Grants

Since our founding, Friends of SMU Libraries has been committed to helping the Libraries maintain excellence. We have funded over $1.5 million in library materials, books, electronic resources, equipment, and services. The Grants Committee meets annually to award grants to benefit all of the SMU Libraries.

2025 Grants & Scholarships

$45,500 awarded

$25,000 to Fondren Library Student Spaces
$5,000 to the SMU Archives and Norwick Center for Digital Solutions for transcription services for the “Voices of SMU” Oral History Project.
$4,500 to Hamon Arts Library for a display case to showcase items from the Ware Collection in Bywaters Special Collections and to support installation costs for mounting a collection of woven works from the Southwest.
$4,000 to the G. William Jones Film and Video Collection at Hamon Arts Library to support the ongoing student-led film series, in collaboration with the Film and Media Arts Division of the Meadows School of the Arts and with assistance from SMU’s Student Academic Engagement and Success, for the 2025-2026 academic year.
$2,500 to the Hawn Gallery at Hamon Arts Library for exhibition programming expenses for the 2025-2026 academic year.
$500 to the Duda Family Business Library for student check-out equipment and supplies.
$1,000 each to Fiona Graybill and Eddie Marx, recipients of the 2025 SMU Libraries Student Employee Excellence Award.
$2,000 to Kaitlin Siebert, recipient of the 2025 Jalesia Horton Memorial Library School Scholarship.

Kaitlin Siebert wearing a cap and gown outside UNT

The Jalesia Horton Memorial Library School Scholarship

The scholarship, named in memory of SMU Libraries staff member Jalesia Horton, is awarded each spring to staff members or interns enrolled in library school. This year's recipient is Kaitlin Siebert, patron resource coordinator in Fondren Library.

Apply for a Scholarship

Student workers Fiona Graybill (left) and Eddie Marx (right) standing outdoors, smiling.

Student Employee Excellence Award

Fiona Graybill (left) is a student worker in Fondren Library. Eddie Marx (right) is a student worker in Hamon Arts Library.

Nominate a Student Worker

Past Grants & Scholarships

2024

$49,700 awarded

$25,000 to the SMU Libraries Internship program.
$5,000 to the SMU Archives and Norwick Center for Digital Solutions for transcription services for the “Voices of SMU” Oral History Project.
$5,000 to the DeGolyer Library for the purchase of photographs of minorities in the West.
$4,000 to the G. William Jones Film and Video Collection at Hamon Arts Library to support the ongoing student-led film series, in collaboration with the Film and Media Arts Division of the Meadows School of the Arts, for the 2024-2025 academic year.
$3,300 to Hamon Arts Library for a directional speaker system.
$2,500 to the Hawn Gallery at Hamon Arts Library for exhibition and programming expenses for the 2024-2025 academic year.
$900 to the Business Library for teaching supplies for experiential learning and gamification sessions.
$2,000 to SMU Libraries to support two SMU Libraries Student Worker Excellence Awards in the amount of $1,000 each. This year's recipients are Lillian Nelson and Pavani Palla.
$2,000 to SMU Libraries to support the Jalesia Horton Memorial Library School Scholarship. This year's recipient is Shruthi Hemasundar.

2023

$40,000 awarded

$12,250 to the SMU Libraries Internship program.
$12,250 to the Fondren Collaborative Classroom Renovation project to support updated technology.
$5,000 to the SMU Archives and Norwick Center for Digital Solutions for transcription services and student funding for the “Voices of SMU” Oral History Project.
$3,000 to the DeGolyer Library for the purchase of minority photographs.
$3,000 to the G. William Jones Film and Video Collection at Hamon Arts Library to support a student-led film series, in collaboration with the Film and Media Arts Division of the Meadows School of the Arts, for the Fall 2023/Spring 2024 terms.
$2,500 to the Hawn Gallery at Hamon Arts Library for programming expenses associated with the Fall 2023/Spring 2024 exhibitions.
$2000 to SMU Libraries to support two SMU Libraries Student Worker Excellence Awards in the amount of $1,000 each. This year’s recipients are Azeez Akande and Joy Morrow.

2022

$23,116 awarded

$5,000 to the SMU Archives and Norwick Center for Digital Solutions for transcription services and student funding for the “Voices of SMU” Oral History project.
$3,266 to nCDS for the purchase of new Vestaboard digital signage for the libraries.
$2,500 to the Business Library to support student-facing needs during the upcoming relocation period and building renovation.
$2,500 to the G. William Jones Film and Video Collection at Hamon Arts Library for archival materials and supplies to support the preservation of two notable donations of film and film-related materials: the Jeff Gordon Collection and the Stephen P. Jarchow “Gods and Monsters” Collection.
$2,000 to Bywaters Special Collections at the Hamon Arts Library for professional framing and transportation costs of the Octavio Medellin drawing The History of Mexico, part of the Octavio Medellin Artwork and Papers.
$2,000 to the Hawn Gallery at Hamon Arts Library to cover gallery operating costs such as installation materials, installer fees, signage and print materials.
$850 to Fondren Library to print 2 large vinyl wall maps with oversized images of historic maps from the SMU collection for the GIS Lab.
$3,000 to SMU Libraries to support three annual SMU Libraries Student Worker Excellence Awards. Recipients are Aiden Egbuchunam, Lauren Horton and Jackson Malley.
$2,000 to Sierra Schuman, recipient of the Library School Scholarship Award.