 Hello, my name is Jim Hicks and I'm the recipient of the 2015 Outstanding Thesis Award for the San Jose State University School of Information. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the Student Award and Scholarship Committee and Director Sandra Hirsch for selecting me for this honor. It's been a truly rewarding experience to complete a thesis for my Master in Library and Information Science degree. My topic was the impact of research and publication experience on hiring decisions for entry-level public services positions at academic libraries in the United States. I believe that the experience of completing a thesis has provided me with the opportunity to gain many valuable skills such as a fundamental understanding of research methodology, a better understanding of scholarly communications, collaboration with many colleagues and mentors, and a deep understanding of the iterative process required to complete a project of this size. I would strongly encourage any students who are willing to spend the time and effort to take advantage of the opportunity to complete a thesis. Past 18 months have been a lot of work, but it is worth it when you consider the experience and skills gained. Finally, I'd like to thank my thesis committee for the generous support. Drs. Lily Luol and Michelle Holschu-Simmons were crucial to my success in the areas of research methodology and overall organization. And my thesis chair, Dr. Anthony Bernier, has been a truly vital advisor and mentor who's helped me to navigate this process through its many ups and downs. So thank you again for the award and for providing me with the opportunity and supportive environment necessary to complete a thesis.