KU News Release

LAWRENCE — Lorraine J. Haricombe, dean of libraries at the University of Kansas, recently presented awards to winners of the 54th annual Snyder Book Collecting Contest.

In the undergraduate division, Rachel Elizabeth Best, of Plano, Texas, won first place for her collection, “Chinese Language and Culture,” and Samuel Walton Atherton, of Overland Park, won second place for his “The Atherton Collection of Historical Works.”

In the graduate division, Ryan Scott Ellett, of Rock Island, Ill., won first place with his “Return With Us Now: The Rise of the Old Time Radio Hobby” collection, and Susan K. Thomas, of Fargo, N.D., won second place with “From Student to Collector: My Journey with Willa Cather.” Tiffany Huggard-Lee, of Lawrence, received an honorable mention for her collection, “From Demons to Diseases.”

Nicholas Basbanes, noted author and lecturer on books and aspects of book culture, delivered a keynote address during the ceremony April 8.

Judging this year’s competition were Basbanes; Beth Whittaker, head of Spencer Research Library; and Betsy Jo Timmer, a 2007 Snyder winner who received a master’s degree in fine arts from KU in spring 2008. Timmer is also a lecturer in visual art.

First-place winners received $600 cash and $100 gift cards to Oread Books; second-place winners received $400 cash and $50 gift cards from Oread Books.

Winners are listed below by hometown, level in school, major, parents’ names and previous schools attended.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence 66046
Tiffany Amanda Huggard-Lee, master’s student in classics; bachelor’s degree from University of Missouri-Columbia.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Overland Park 66204
Samuel Walton Atherton, senior in history; son of Tracy and Cecilia Atherton; Shawnee Mission High School North.

ILLINOIS
From Rock Island
Ryan Scott Ellett, doctoral student in education; master’s degree in education from KU, summer 2007; bachelor’s degree from Emory and Henry College, Emory, Va.

NORTH DAKOTA
From Fargo
Susan K. Thomas, doctoral student in English; bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State University-Moorhead.

TEXAS
From Plano 75025
Rachel Elizabeth (Hoener) Best, senior in East Asian languages and cultures; Plano East Senior High School.