The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) and Questa Education Foundation are proud to announce the 2025 recipients of funding under the ACPL Scholars Program, which provides an incredible opportunity for library staff to advance their education in the field of library science. Thanks to the continued support from the ACPL Foundation Board in partnership with Questa Education Foundation, the loan forgiveness program allows two ACPL staff members to pursue a Master of Library Science (MLS) degree with no out-of-pocket costs.
The library is thrilled to congratulate the following recipients:
Meisha Donerlson, Outreach Librarian at the Pontiac Branch
Allison Nielson, Branch Assistant at the Monroeville Branch
The Questa Scholars Program provides funding for library employees to pursue an MLS degree at an American Library Association (ALA)-accredited institution. Once completed, participants are expected to work at the ACPL for a minimum of three years, and their loan is fully forgiven. This reduces the financial strain of higher education while enabling the ACPL to maintain a strong, talented workforce dedicated to serving the community.
“We are proud to invest in the development of our team and grateful to our partners at Questa and the ACPL Foundation for making this possible,” said ACPL Executive Director Susan P. Baier. “As technology changes, patron needs expand, and librarianship evolves, this program is one way we’re equipping our library with the expert workforce necessary to meet the demands of our growing community.”
The program is available to current and future ACPL employees and is designed to help remove financial barriers for those who want to become library professionals but may face financial challenges in pursuing advanced degrees.
“Supporting library staff members to achieve further education and helping the library meet critical talent needs is a perfect fit for Questa’s mission,” said Questa Executive Director Liz Bushnell. “The ACPL Scholars program is the type of innovation partnership with local organizations that achieves all of our goals - supporting local students, reducing student debt, and building our regional workforce.”
The ACPL Foundation committed $110,000 to the program for its initial launch and the Questa Education Foundation has continued fundraising efforts including recent grants from the English Bonter Mitchell Foundation and the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne.
The program launched in 2024 and its initial recipients, Charkiera Smith, Assistant Manager at the Hessen Cassel branch and Gabi Jauregui, Youth Services Librarian at the Shawnee branch, have successfully completed the first year’s requirements and are continuing to make great strides in their educational journeys. For more information or eligibility requirements for the ACPL Scholars program at Questa, visit questafoundation.org/acpl-scholars-program.
The Questa Scholars Program is just one of the ways Allen County Public Library demonstrates its commitment to lifelong learning, both for its employees and the community. The initiative is in line with the library’s 2024-28 strategic plan “Windows to Lifelong Learning and Discovery” which included a strategic goal of “assessing staff career trajectories and assisting in their professional development” as part of leading through innovation. This information can be found at acpl.info/strategic-plan.
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About the ACPL
The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) has fostered lifelong learning and discovery in northeast Indiana for more than 125 years. The ACPL consists of fourteen branches throughout Allen County, serving more than one million visitors per year. The ACPL’s collection includes more than 2.7 million items, with a circulation total of 4.2 million items borrowed annually. It also houses The Genealogy Center, the nation’s largest public genealogy research center, and The Rolland Center for Lincoln Research, consisting of more than 30,000 artifacts related to President Abraham Lincoln.
About Questa Education Foundation
Since 1937, Questa Education Foundation has been helping individuals access post-secondary education, graduate with less debt, and become contributing members of Northeast Indiana’s workforce. Questa’s vision is to lead the region with innovative solutions that empower lifelong learners to achieve their educational dreams with financial freedom, ensuring the future and success of Northeast Indiana.
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