From Our Archive
Sept. 17, 2007
Scripps Howard Foundation names winners of Top Ten journalism scholarship program
College students from across the U.S. will receive $10,000 each
CINCINNATI – The Scripps Howard Foundation today awarded $100,000 in scholarships to 10 college journalism students from across the United States through its annual Top Ten Scholars program.
Journalism and communication schools could nominate one full-time student as their representative in the competition. From the pool of candidates, a panel of newspaper, broadcast and television network professionals chose 10 recipients for the $10,000 scholarships. The one-time award is applied toward a full academic year.
The Scripps Howard Foundation has awarded $900,000 in scholarships to 90 students since the Top Ten Scholars program began in 1999.
“This year’s scholars, like their predecessors, represent a very bright future for journalism in America,” said Judith G. Clabes, foundation president and CEO. “As we recognize and reward them, we encourage them to be vigilant in pursuit of their career goals.”
The 2007 Top Ten Scholars, chosen for their academic achievement, portfolio of work, demonstrated interest in journalism and an essay about their long-term career goals, are:
Kirsten Brownrigg, a senior from Solon, Ohio, is preparing for a career in multimedia journalism by studying broadcast news, print news writing and online journalism at Ohio University in Athens. She has interned at NBC’s Today Show in New York City and at the Scripps Howard Foundation Wire in Washington, D.C. This summer she worked in Athens as an anchor and reporter for WOUB-TV, a PBS affiliate. She is president of the OU chapter of the Radio and Television News Directors Association.
John Cox, a senior from Niceville, Fla., is studying journalism at the University of Florida in Gainesville. He has interned at The Miami Herald and blogged for the Florida Times-Union. In addition, he has written for YoungMoney.com, the student-staffed Independent Florida Alligator and the university’s Communigator alumni magazine.
Rebecca Fishow, a senior from Manchester, N.H., is studying journalism, English and textual studies at Syracuse University. She has worked as a copy editor and contributing writer at the Syracuse Post-Standard, as a contributing writer for UrbanCNY.com, and as a staff writer at The Daily Orange, the university’s independent newspaper. In addition, Fishow was co-editor of the university’s literary magazine, Verbal Seduction, and has interned at the Hippo Press in Manchester, N.H., in the art department at the Syracuse Post-Standard and at the Creative Coalition in New York City. This fall, she is studying in Mysore, India.
Audrie Garrison, a junior from New Palestine, Ind., is majoring in journalism and political science at Indiana University. She is managing editor of the Indiana Daily Student, selected the past two years as the nation’s top college daily newspaper, and was a 2006 winner of the Roy W. Howard National Collegiate Reporting Competition sponsored by the Scripps Howard Foundation. She has interned at the Arizona Republic as a Pulliam Fellow and at the Shelbyville (Ind.) News.
Liala Helal, a senior from Fridley, Minn., is studying journalism and psychology at the University of Minnesota. She has worked the past two summers at the St. Paul (Minn.) Pioneer Press, first as an intern and most recently as a full-time reporter. In addition, Helal has been a writing consultant for the University of Minnesota and a reporter at its student newspaper, The Minnesota Daily.
Katie Hoffmann, a senior from Belleville, Ill., is studying journalism and international studies at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where she was features editor of the student newspaper, The Daily Tar Heel, last year and is investigative team editor this year. She was a business news intern at The Times of London in 2006 and at Bloomberg News in New York City this summer.
Ryan Kost, a senior from Chandler, Ariz., is studying print journalism, French and Spanish at Arizona State University. He has worked as a reporter and editor for the campus daily, The State Press, and has interned at The Oregonian in Portland, The Arizona Republic, The Tampa Tribune and Phoenix magazine.
Elida Perez, a senior from El Paso, Texas, is studying print media and Spanish at the University of Texas-El Paso, where she is editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, The Prospector. She has written for the university magazine, Miners, and LaChicana Art magazine in Los Angeles. She interned this summer at The Spokesman Review in Spokane, Wash.
Garesia LaShay Randle, a senior from Houston, is studying print journalism and sociology at Louisiana State University. At LSU, she is a founding member of the Manship School of Mass Communication Ambassadors program, and a reporter for her campus newspaper, The Daily Reveille. Randle is a 2007 winner of the Roy W. Howard National Collegiate Reporting Competition sponsored by the Scripps Howard Foundation and recently interned at the Scripps Howard Foundation Wire in Washington, D.C.
Kelly Stinson, a senior from Jeffersonville, Ind., is an advertising major at Western Kentucky University. She has worked at the student newspaper, the College Heights Herald, for five semesters and is advertising manager this fall. She has interned at the YMCA of Greater Louisville; ConnectKentucky, an alliance of technology companies; and at WKU’s Imagewest, a student-run advertising and public relations agency.
Dedicated to excellence in journalism, the Scripps Howard Foundation is a leader in industry efforts in journalism education, scholarships, internships, literacy, minority recruitment/development and First Amendment causes. It is the philanthropic arm of The E.W. Scripps Company, a diverse and growing media enterprise with interests in national cable networks, newspaper publishing, broadcast television stations, electronic commerce, interactive media, and licensing and syndication.
Contact for photos or more information: Sue Porter, Scripps Howard Foundation, 513-977-3030, porters@scripps.com