15 Students at Texas Universities Win Annual Scholarship Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alison Unger, (512) 445-4520
aunger@headlinersfoundation.org
AUSTIN (July 7, 2020)— The Headliners Foundation of Texas is pleased to announce winners of more than $70,000 in scholarships for the 2020-2021 academic year. The awards go to 15 undergraduate students at schools throughout the state showing outstanding potential in journalism. For the first time, the Foundation has also awarded the Bess Whitehead Scott Scribes Scholarship to a deserving professional seeking advancement in the field of journalism through pursuit of additional education.
In addition to strong academic records and writing ability, applicants were expected to have demonstrated their interest in journalism by working on student media or as interns for professional media outlets. The scholarships range from $3,000 to $6,000 each.
The winners are:
Sarah and Ernest Butler Scholarship
Anuraga (Raga) Justin, Austin, TX, The University of Texas at Austin
George Christian Scholarship
Emily Caldwell, Austin, TX, The University of Texas at Austin
Verne Lundquist Scholarship
Brian Yancelson, San Antonio, TX, Trinity University
Darrell K. Royal Scholarship
Jhair Romero, Friendswood, TX, University of Houston
Dolly and Paul Bolton Scholarship
Hannah Ortega, Lucas, TX, The University of Texas at Austin
Jimmy Banks Scholarship
Arianna Flores, Boerne, TX, The University of Texas at Austin
Stuart Long Memorial Scholarship for Aspiring Journalists
Jaden Edison, San Marcos, TX, Texas State University
Lexi Barlow, Richardson, TX, Texas Wesleyan University
Barry Bishop Scholarship
Carlynn Greene, Desoto, TX, University of North Texas
Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Scholarship
Faith Castle, Austin, TX, The University of Texas at Austin
John “Brick” Ellis Scholarship
Tiana Woodard, Austin, TX, The University of Texas at Austin
Sam Wood Scholarship
Drake Toll, Conway, AR, Baylor University
Bess Whitehead Scott Scribes Scholarship
Diana Fuentes, San Antonio, TX, Texas State University
Wilbur Evans Scholarship
Megan Menchaca, Frisco, TX, The University of Texas at Austin
George Moore Scholarship
Spencer Buckner, Austin, TX, The University of Texas at Austin
Applications were received from students attending the following colleges and universities:
Baylor University, Texas Christian University, Texas State University, Texas Tech University, Texas Wesleyan University, Trinity University, University of Houston, University of North Texas, The University of Texas at Austin, and West Texas A&M University.
“We are very proud to recognize these promising young journalists whose work has already made an impact,” said Patti C. Smith, Chair of the Foundation’s Academic Excellence Committee, and International Media Consultant. “These students have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to journalistic excellence and have shown us, once again, that the future of Texas journalism is very bright,” Smith said.
“The Headliners Foundation was established more than 35 years ago by members of the Headliners Club in Austin to nurture and promote excellence in journalism,” said Patti Ohlendorf, Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Governors. “Providing these substantial scholarships to students across the state is one of the most important ways we carry out this mission.”
In addition to the $70,000 noted above, the Foundation will award the Jack Keever Scholarship to the managing editor of The Daily Texan at UT-Austin each semester of the 2020-2021 academic year, bringing the total in scholarship awards to $72,500.
Many of the Foundation’s scholarships are named in remembrance of the contributions of early benefactors, including a number of its Founders: Jimmy Banks, Barry Bishop, Dolly and Paul Bolton, George Christian, John “Brick” Elliott, Wilbur Evans, Jack E. Keever, George Moore, Joe Roddy, Darrell Royal and Sam Wood.
Since 2016, the Headliners Foundation of Texas has also named a Butler Scholar, the Foundation’s newest endowed scholarship made possible by longtime Headliners Club members and Foundation supporters Sarah and Ernest Butler.
The George Christian Scholarship was created in 2012 to honor the late journalist and former press secretary to President Lyndon B. Johnson.
This is the sixth year for the Headliners Foundation of Texas to administer the Stuart Long
Memorial Scholarship for Aspiring Journalists. The Long Scholarship honors the memory of Stuart
Long, who died in 1977 after a journalism career that began during the early 1930s.
The Texas Associated Press Broadcasters (TAPB) Scholarship is an ongoing partnership with TAPB and the Headliners Foundation to recognize an outstanding student pursuing a degree in the field of broadcast journalism.
The Sam Wood Scholarship was created in 1991 to honor the former editor of the Austin American-Statesman, who helped charter the Headliners Club along with several other local members of the press.
In 2019, the Verne Lundquist Scholarship was established to honor the legendary sportscaster as part of the Foundation’s newest initiative, the Verne Lundquist Sports Media Institute. This scholarship is awarded to a student who is focusing on print, broadcast or online sports journalism.
For the first time, this year the Foundation is awarding the Bess Whitehead Scott Scribes Scholarship to a non-traditional student who is seeking education in fields related to journalism and writing. This new scholarship is named for one of the state’s pioneering women in journalism, Bess Whitehead Scott.
For more information about the scholarship program and a listing of prior years’ scholarship recipients, please visit www.headlinersfoundation.org. Profiles of the 2020-2021 scholarship recipients will be posted later this summer.
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About The Headliners Foundation of Texas Founded in 1983, the Headliners Foundation of Texas is a 501(c)(3) that promotes excellence in journalism by providing scholarships to promising communications students; recognizing outstanding works of journalism and leaders in the industry; and sponsoring special projects that promote journalistic excellence and preserve history.