The AAJA Sports Task Force awards two $2,000 grants to students or recent graduates who are pursuing careers in sports journalism. The scholarship is intended to financially support the recipients’ registration, travel and lodging costs for AAJA’s 2025 National Convention from July 30 – August 3 in Seattle, Washington. 

Applicants will be selected on the basis of their demonstrated journalistic ability, financial need, strong commitment to the pursuit of a sports journalism career and dedication to AAJA’s mission.

The scholarships are made possible thanks to a donation made by Don Yee (of sports talent agency Yee & Dubin Sports, LLC.). 

    • Applicants must be an active AAJA member
  • For currently enrolled students:
    • Applicants must be an undergraduate or graduate student enrolled full-time with at least 12 credit units each semester at a junior college or university located in the United States with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA
    • Applicants must be currently taking or planning to take journalism courses and/or pursuing sports journalism as a career
  • For young professionals:
    • Applicants must have graduated from a community college or university, including graduate school, located in the United States within the past five (5) years.
    • Applicants must be currently and actively pursuing sports journalism as a career
  • Note: Graduate students and young professionals will be judged against each other, while undergraduate students and those not attending college/university will be judged against each other.
  • Resume
  • Journalistic work samples
  • Contact information for two references
  • Essay (up to 1000 words)
    Explain why you want this scholarship, why you want to pursue sports journalism/media and how the financial support of this scholarship would help your long-term career goals. The essay should also answer all of the following questions:
    1. What role or responsibility do journalists of color have in a modern press box? What importance does your ethnic or racial identity serve in the way you plan to cover sports as a professional journalist?
    2. What makes you stand out from the thousands of students pursuing sports journalism as a career? What are your biggest weaknesses and how do you plan to continue growing as a journalist?
    3. What is one issue important to Asian Americans in sports that is not covered enough or is poorly covered? How would you fix the coverage?
  • Essay (up to 700 words)
    Explain how this financial support and attending the AAJA convention would help advance your sports journalism career. Candidates will be selected on the basis of academic achievement, demonstrated journalistic ability, financial need, and commitment to the field of journalism.

Qiestions? Email support@aaja.org 

Application closed: April 30, 2025
Meet the 2025 jimmie and suey fong yee grant Recipients

Heather Chen
Columbia University

Ira Gorawara
University of California, Los Angeles

The Asian American Journalists Association’s Sports Task Force is pleased to announce Heather Chen and Ira Gorawara as the recipients of the 2025 Jimmie & Suey Fong Yee Grants, generously funded by prominent sports agent Don Yee.

The $2,000 grants will go toward costs for the 2025 AAJA national convention, which is scheduled to be held this summer in Seattle. For both Chen and Gorawara, Yee’s generosity will help them attend their first AAJA conventions.

“We’re thrilled to support Heather and Ira’s journey to the AAJA Convention in Seattle through the Jimmie & Suey Fong Yee Grants,” Sports Task Force President Michele Steele said. “Their impressive work and commitment are inspiring. Our deepest gratitude to Don Yee for his vital support.”

Both Chen and Gorawara just completed their junior years at their respective colleges at Columbia and UCLA and have each risen to leadership positions. Chen lists Managing Editor and Sports Deputy Editor among her many duties at the Columbia Daily Spectator. Gorawara is the Sports Editor at UCLA’s Daily Bruin.

“I am so excited and honored for the opportunity to attend AAJA ’25 with the support of the AAJA Sports Task Force and the generosity of Don Yee,” Chen said. “As an aspiring sports journalist, being around other sports media professionals from my background is so inspiring, and I cannot wait to be in Seattle.”

“Receiving the Jimmie & Suey Fong Yee Grant is an incredible honor and a powerful motivation to continue pushing for more inclusive and nuanced sports storytelling,” Gorawara said. “As an Indian born and raised in Hong Kong and now assimilating to life in Los Angeles, I’ve always brought a cross-cultural approach to my work, and this recognition is a reminder that there’s real value in the stories we bring to the table. I’m beyond grateful to be part of an inspiring community that champions diverse voices and relentlessly supports the next generation of journalists.”

A judging panel full of past Jimmie & Suey Fong Yee Grant recipients was profoundly impressed by both, and not just for the rise to leadership at their respective schools. Earlier this year, Chen had been selected as part of the 2025 class of the prestigious Sports Journalism Institute, but due to personal circumstances, had to turn the opportunity down. And yet, she did not let that keep her down. As for Gorawara, along with her unique background, she is trilingual in Hindi, Mandarin, and English.

On Chen, one judge commented: “I was really impressed with the depth and range of Heather’s writing. Her skills as a writer are very clear to me and I think keeping someone like her involved in AAJA is critical to our goals and mission as an organization. I also believe that she is someone that this particular scholarship is meant to help. Her essay about having to turn down a spot in SJI demonstrates her need to be part of AAJA and I hope that awarding her this scholarship will be helpful.”

Another judge noted about Gorawara: “Ira’s resume and work samples are arguably the most polished of the group. As a South Asian raised in Hong Kong, currently living in Los Angeles, Ira brings a tremendously unique background to each room she enters. Her portfolio includes a variety of stories focused on South and East Asian stories, which Don would undoubtedly be pleased by.”

And Yee is undoubtedly pleased with this latest class of recipients.

“Congratulations to Heather and Ira!” Yee said. “I am incredibly impressed with the sophistication and polish they’ve already demonstrated. Heather’s written and visual work already has been recognized by significant publications, and Ira truly is a global citizen, able to bring us unique stories from around the world. I’m excited for them to participate with the Sports Task Force of AAJA and for all of us to support them. Thank you to the Sports Task Force board for its efforts in encouraging this scholarship.”

Over the course of a distinguished 34-year career, Yee has represented many of the country’s most accomplished football players and coaches, as well as athletes from a wide range of Olympic and action sports. His clientele includes Tom Brady, Jim Harbaugh, Jimmy Garoppolo and Sean Payton. Since 2016, Yee’s generosity has now helped close to 20 aspiring sports journalists attend the AAJA convention.

About Jimmie And Suey Fong Yee

Like many Chinese immigrants, Jimmie and Suey Fong Yee immigrated to the U.S. after the civil war. They settled in Sacramento and worked hard to create a new life for themselves and their young family. They endured many hardships, but they envisioned and achieved a better future for themselves and their children. 

They were proud of their Chinese heritage. One of the important values they taught their children was to be sympathetic to the plight, journey and struggle of others. Just as the Yees received help from others, it was their wish to return their good fortune by helping other Asians achieve their dreams.

About DON Yee

Donald H. Yee is a partner and founder of Yee & Dubin Sports, LLC., a sports management consulting firm that represents some of the nation’s leading professional athletes, coaches and broadcasters. Yee, a graduate of UCLA and the University of Virginia School of Law, also is a frequent speaker and writer on sports-related issues. He is a former adjunct professor of law at the University of Southern California law school and a visiting professor of law at the University of Virginia School of Law.

About The AAJA Sports Task Force

The Asian American Journalists Association’s Sports Task Force is pleased to offer several scholarship and fellowship opportunities for enrolled college students and young professionals to support their pursuit of careers in sports journalism and media. The selected fellowship winners must commit to a minimum of five hours of volunteer work for the AAJA Sports Task Force.

The AAJA Sports Task Force elevates the voices of Asian Americans in sports and encourages future Asian American sports journalists through mentorship and scholarship opportunities. 

To join AAJA’s Sports Task Force or to find out more about the group, please check the “Sports Task Force” box when becoming an AAJA member at aaja.org/join.

SCholarship recipients and press by Year

2018 Recipients

Pablo Iglesias is a graduate of Bradley University where he studied sports communication. “My scholarship helped me gain confidence as I continue to pursue this lifelong dream I have had of being in the sports broadcasting industry. Additionally, it has helped me expand my network as I was able to make even more connections at this past convention along with strengthening the relationships I’ve had with AAJA members I met last year,” Pablo says. His career goal is to make his way into national sports broadcasting.

Souichi Terada is a student at Michigan State University studying journalism. “Being able to go the AAJA convention was an incredible experience. […] I met some friends I know I’ll have for a lifetime. That was one of the first times in my life I actually met people within the industry who were Asian-American, so hearing their past experiences was eye-opening. I went to other journalism conventions before AAJA, but being in Houston felt different,” Souichi says. He currently works as a sports contributor and intern at the Detroit Free Press.

2017 Recipients

Charlie Lapastora is a graduate of Oakland University in Michigan where he studied communication. He currently works as a sports anchor and producer for The Media Gateway. “I was able to get to the AAJA convention in Philly and network with potential employers! I am very grateful for the scholarship,” Charlie says about the opportunity. He currently aims to grow as a journalist in every aspect and is seeking mentorships and job shadowing opportunities while establishing himself in the sports industry.

Daniel Tran is a recent graduate of the University of Southern California. “I was already in journalism when I received the scholarship, but it helped me expand my network instantly with motivated colleagues. Without the connections I made, I wouldn’t have a group I can lean on for help regarding career advice or familiar faces when on assignment. Being able to attend the convention may be a career-changing event that I hope others can enjoy,” Daniel says. He currently works as a sports editor for The Tylt.

2016 Recipients

Josh Tolentino is a student at Illinois State University pursuing majors in journalism and English. “Having my expenses covered for this year’s AAJA convention played a huge role for me. Being awarded the Jimmie & Suey Fong Yee Scholarship couldn’t have come at a better time,” Josh says. He has recently completed a sports internship with the Chicago Sun-Times, turning down a full-time paid page design internship in order to continue his true passion for sports coverage. He currently serves as a sports editor for Illinois State University’s student newspaper The Daily Vidette and aspires to become a full-time reporter for the NBA.

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