The Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA), the nation's largest organization for Asian American and Pacific Islander journalists, announces the recipients of its 2004 scholarships, grants and internships.
The recipients were honored at a gala banquet during the Unity Journalists of Color Convention at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C. on Friday, August 6, 2004. Support for these student-development programs comes from proceeds of this gala banquet.
Judging for this year's national competition was organized by AAJA's Michigan Chapter. Scholarship Committee members include Sue Stock, reporter, Lansing State Journal and chair of selection committee; Ron Recinto, Oakland bureau editor, Detroit Free Press; Garrison Wells, business editor, Lansing State Journal; Adela Uchida, anchor, WILX-NBC 10; Chris Casqueyo, freelance reporter (broadcast); and Geri Zeldes, journalism professor, Michigan State University.
National General Scholarships
Scholarships of up to $2,000 are awarded to outstanding students interested in pursuing careers in print, broadcasting or photojournalism. This year's winners:
- Tomio Geron, graduate student, U.C. Berkeley, will receive a $1,000 award.
- Ling Liu, graduate student, U.C. Berkeley, will receive a $1,000 award.
- Julie Yen, freshman, Stanford University, will receive a $2,000 award.
AAJA/S.I. Newhouse Scholarships
These scholarships are sponsored by AAJA and the S.I. Newhouse Foundation and are awarded to graduating high school seniors, undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in print journalism. Asian Americans from underrepresented ethnic groups are particularly encouraged to apply. Special thanks to Deborah Howell with Newhouse News Service and George Rede with The Oregonian for their commitment to AAJA's scholarship program. This year's scholarship winners:
- Wiqan Ang, senior, Western Kentucky University, will receive a $2,000 award.
- Caroline Chen, graduate student, Syracuse University, will receive a $5,000 award.
- Huijuan Jia, graduate student, Boston University, will receive a $1,000 award.
- Monica Mehta, graduate student, U.C. Berkeley, will receive a $4,000 award.
- Rachel Pesando, graduate student, University of Maryland, College Park, will receive a $1,000 award.
- Sherry Anne Rubiano, junior, University of Southern California, will receive a $5,000 award.
- Susie Vang, junior, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, will receive a $5,000 award.
- Yee-shing Yang, junior, University of California, Los Angeles, will receive a $2,000 award.
Mary Moy Quan Ing Memorial Scholarship
This award is given each year to a deserving graduating high school senior who is enrolling in college and pursuing a journalism career. This year's awardee:
- Yuzhen (Jenny) Lin, senior, Stuyvesant High School and entering Yale University, will receive a $2,000 award.
Minoru Yasui Memorial Scholarship
This award is given each year to a promising Asian American male who is studying broadcasting. This year's awardee:
- Nicholas Smith, senior, Waianae High School and entering the University of Hawaii, will receive a $2,000 award.
AAJA Internship Grant for Broadcast
This grant is given each year to a student working as an intern at a broadcast news organization. This award will be used to supplement unpaid or low-paying internships. This year's awardee:
- Sujata Tuladhar, sophomore, Connecticut College, will receive a $1,500 award for her internship with BBC Northern Ireland this summer.
AAJA Internship Grant for Print or New Media
With funding from the Chicago Tribune Foundation and AAJA's 20th Anniversary Fund, grants are awarded to students and non-students working as interns at print or online news organizations. These grants are intended to help defray living expenses during the internship. AAJA member Bruce Koon contributed additional support for new media interns. This year's grant winners:
- Adrianna Khoo, senior, University of Southern California, and intern at Los Angeles Garment and Citizen in Los Angeles, CA. She receives a $1, 500 award.
- Anne Kim, junior, University of Washington, and intern at Richmond Times-Dispatch in Richmond, VA. She receives a $1, 500 award.
- Kevin Kim, graduate student, Stanford University, and intern at The Patriot Ledger in Quincy, MA. He receives a $1, 500 award.
- Gillian Wee, graduate student, Columbia University, and intern at Miami Herald in Miami, FL. She receives a $1, 500 award.
- Joy Billings, senior, Ohio University, and intern at The E.W. Scripps Company in Knoxville, TN. She receives a $1, 250 award.
- Hung (Tom) Nguyen, recent graduate, U.C. Berkeley, and intern at The Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, FL. He receives a $1, 250 award.
- Jessica Shyu, junior, University of Maryland, College Park, and intern at usatoday.com in McLean, VA. She receives a $2, 500 award.
Stanford Chen Internship Grant Fund
AAJA is proud to present the Stanford Chen Internship Awards, named in memory of a dear friend, mentor and colleague. The fund provides stipends of $1,500 each to outstanding students pursuing journalism careers.
The grants are designed to supplement non- or low-paying internships at small to medium-sized markets. This year's selection committee included Maya Blackmun and Beth Erickson of The Oregonian. This year's recipients:
- Caroline Li, senior, University of Washington, and intern at Northwest Asian Weekly and "Seattle Real Music."
- Michael Schennum, photojournalism graduate, San Francisco State University, and intern at Appleton Post-Crescent in Wisconsin.
- Boa Lee, senior, University of Minnesota, and intern at WEIU-TV.
Siani Lee Broadcast Internship for Television
Named in honor of the late Siani Lee, Philadelphia television news anchor, this internship takes place at the station Lee worked at CBS affiliate KYW-TV in Philadelphia. The intern receives a stipend of $2,500 and a summer internship at the station. A special thanks to Denise Poon, producer, DLP Productions, headed the judging committee. This year's recipient:
- Susan Ru, junior at Northwestern University, who is majoring in broadcast journalism.
Associated Press Internship
The AP Internship Program is a selective, four-week training program for aspiring journalists inprint, photo, radio, broadcast, and new media. Interns work in an AP bureau under the supervision of a trainer. This year's recipient:
- Kristie A. Martinez, junior at the University of South Florida, who is majoring in mass communications.
National Public Radio Internship
In partnership with National Public Radio, AAJA offered an opportunity for an AAJA student to become an intern at NPR in Washington, D.C. If chosen, the AAJA intern also works on the Student Radio Project for AAJA's National Convention. Wilma Consul, assistant producer, National Public Radio, headed the judging committee. This year's recipient:
- Susan Leem, graduate student at the University of Minnesota, who is majoring in communications and rhetoric.
Cox Reporting Internship
In partnership with the AAJA, Cox Newspapers offered a Washington, D.C. reporting internship this summer. The intern will work as a general assignment reporter in the Cox Washington Bureau from June until Labor Day. Mae Cheng, assistant city editor, Newsday, headed the judging committee. This year's recipient:
- Alice Chang, graduate student at Northwestern University, who is majoring in journalism.
Sports Journalism Institute Program
This opportunity is a nine-week training and internship program for college students interested in sports journalism careers. They participated in a crash course in sports journalism at the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) annual convention in Philadelphia on June 23-26, 2004. Albert Kim, assistant managing editor, People magazine, headed the judging committee. This year's recipient:
- Gerald Tang, sophomore at Northwestern University, who is majoring in journalism.