Student Ambassadors awarded inaugural Patricia Boze Libraries Memorial Scholarship

The first recipients of the Patricia Boze Libraries Memorial Scholarship received awards in spring 2025.

Omotayo Onanuga, a doctoral student in kinesiology from Lagos, Nigeria, and Kaleah McClure, a freshman in English from Olathe, Kansas, were chosen for their outstanding dedication to supporting fellow students and advocating for K-State Libraries.

“Omotayo and Kaleah are committed advocates and ambassadors,” said Sara K. Kearns, advisor to the Libraries Student Ambassadors. “We are delighted to be able to award them with these scholarships and ease their financial paths as students, allowing them to be both students and engaged with the K-State community.”

The award was established in memory of Patricia Boze, a 1973 K-State graduate and lifelong librarian who believed deeply in the power of libraries to enrich the lives of their patrons. Through the generosity of her family and friends, the scholarship now provides meaningful financial support to students who serve as Libraries Student Ambassadors.

Ambassadors play a pivotal role in the Libraries by sharing student perspectives, guiding key decisions and serving as a bridge between the student body and the library.

“We are proud of the contributions of all of our ambassadors," said Kearns. “Selecting only two ambassadors for these scholarships was very difficult, especially when we read about the applicants’ impacts across campus from their letters of support.”