Catch up with a Libraries student scholarship awardee: Carmella Hawkins

The NC State University Libraries awards a number of part-scholarships every year to our outstanding Libraries student workers as part of our efforts to support student success and affordability. Since 2018, we've awarded 35 scholarships of varying amounts totaling $119,000. For the academic year 2022–23, philanthropic support for the Libraries Student Scholarship Fund has allowed us to support 10 of our talented students with scholarships worth $36,000 in total. This profile is one in a series that lets our scholarship winners tell their stories.

Carmella Hawkins is a junior studying Computer Engineering, and she works in the Access Services department at the Libraries. She has worked directly with the bookBot at the Hunt Library, which she found daunting at first, but now she’s a total pro.

What are your hobbies and activities outside of school?
Guitar, reading, watching films.

Why did you choose to work at the Libraries? What roles have libraries played in your life in general?
In high school, I hung out in the library a ton and developed a close relationship with our librarians. I’ve always valued libraries and was excited at the idea of working with them.

What have you been most looking forward to this school year?
The opportunity to be successful academically.

What do you hope to do after you graduate?
Become a software engineer, and maybe write a book or screenplay.

What have you learned through your work at the Libraries? How does your work at the Libraries support or lead into your post-graduation plans?
I’ve learned of opportunities that the Libraries offer that I wasn’t aware of before. Tons of media of course, but also personal resources.

How will a Libraries scholarship help you on your educational/personal path? Is there anything specific that the scholarship will enable or help you to do?
The scholarship provides me with much needed funds for my college tuition. As an out-of-state student, this scholarship has been extremely helpful with tuition and housing costs.

Learn more about the Libraries Student Scholarship Endowment here, and donate directly here.