 Hello from St. George's International School in Switzerland. My name is Mary Beth Romo and I'm a December 2017 graduate of the master's program at the San Jose State University School of Information. I'd like to thank Director Sandra Hirsch and the Student Awards and Scholarships Committee for honoring me with the 2018 Director's Award for Excellence in International Contribution. It's been a privilege to study at the SJSU iSchool with its exceptional faculty and curriculum. The Master of Library and Information Science program has prepared me to make an impact on our students here at St. George's International School. Together with the inspired education group's growing global network of schools, we nurture ethical and effective consumers and creators of information through our promotion of literacy, critical thinking, inquiry, research, and the use of new and emerging information technologies. My colleagues and I are dedicated to fostering a love of reading and learning among our ethnically and culturally diverse community of students. Our library program is founded on a strong belief in the freedom to explore and express topics from multiple viewpoints. We celebrate individual, national, and cultural identity and encourage sensitivity and tolerance towards others. Expanding four continents and eleven countries, our school libraries provide an ideal environment in which to highlight the importance of mutual respect and understanding across languages, borders, and cultures. Given the present atmosphere of political polarization, it is crucial to develop a generation of learners, professionals, and citizens with a global perspective who can lead the way toward a peaceful, harmonious, and prosperous future. I look forward to building communities with my colleagues around the world, exchanging professional traditions and innovations, and contributing to the scholarly body of research. Thank you once again for the award and for the continued support of the iSchool faculty and staff throughout the MLIS program.