Press Release

NAHJ Announces 2008 Scholarship Recipients

Media Contact: Iván Román, (202) 662-7178

WASHINGTON - The National Association of Hispanic Journalists awarded $91,000 in new scholarships this fall to 35 students pursuing a career in journalism. An additional $42,000 has been paid out in 2008 from continuing scholarships to 13 students.

With this year’s awards, NAHJ has given out a total of more than $1.5 million in financial aid, to more than 550 aspiring journalists, since the scholarship fund began operating in 1987.

The scholarships are part of NAHJ’s educational and professional development programs, which include annual conventions, student media projects, journalism workshops, multimedia training, a job bank and much more. Through these programs, NAHJ seeks to boost the number of Latinos in newsrooms and to create a path toward achieving more fair and accurate coverage of the Hispanic community.

The NAHJ scholarships are made possible through donations to the Rubén Salazar Scholarship Fund, established in honor of the Latino journalism pioneer who was killed by a tear gas projectile from an L.A. County Sheriff while he covered an anti-war demonstration in 1970.

NAHJ is also able to offer these scholarships in 2008 thanks to generous personal donations from María Elena Salinas, co-anchor of Noticiero Univisión and syndicated columnist, and Geraldo Rivera, senior correspondent for Fox News Channel.

This year’s scholarships are also possible thanks to grants from the Samuel Newhouse Foundation, the Ford Motor Company, CNN and Univision. Contributions to the Rubén Salazar Scholarship Fund have also been received in 2008 from the James Cox Foundation, the Daimler Chrysler Foundation, and the Dow Jones Fund.

NAHJ continues to raise money for the scholarship fund, in part through the upcoming 20th Annual Scholarship Banquet, which will take place in New York City in February 2009.

“In this economy, it’s vital we continue to support the college students who are interested in improving media coverage of the Latino community,” said Iván Román, NAHJ’s Executive Director. “The diverse background and talents of this year’s class gives us much needed hope for the future of journalism. We’re thankful to the supporters who have joined us in this effort.”

NAHJ is pleased to announce the new 2008 scholarship recipients:

Newhouse Scholarships (ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 for students pursuing careers in English-language print and online journalism)

*Arlinda Arriaga, University of North Texas
Arelis Hernandez, University of Maryland
Amy Monroe, University of Washington
Armando Montano, Grinnell College
Natalie Olivares, San Antonio College
*Diego Robles, Ohio University
Carol Schliesinger, University of Texas – Austin
*Julio Salgado, California State University, Long Beach
Brian Singler, University of Missouri, Columbia
*Jaime Velasquez, University of Texas – Austin

*These $1,000 scholarships supplemented with another $1,000 from NAHJ’s Rubén Salazar Scholarship Fund.

Ford Motor Company Scholarships ($2,000 scholarships for students pursuing careers in journalism in either language or any type of media)

Jamie Blanco, Emerson College
Esteban Desantiago, University of Texas – Austin
Lizbeth Gonzalez, California State University, Los Angeles
Carla Kerstens, University of Miami
Jason Koebler, University of Maryland, College Park
Lauren Mendoza, University of Southern California
Gabriela Monico, University of California, Berkeley
Fatima Santiago, The College of William and Mary
Carlos Saucedo, University of Southern California
Jaime Zea, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Maria Elena Salinas Scholarship ($5,000 scholarships for students pursuing a career in Spanish-language broadcast journalism)

Ada Alvarez, Florida International University
Claudia Campos, California State University, Northridge
Diana Perez, University of Georgia

Geraldo Rivera Scholarship ($5,000 scholarship for student pursuing a career in journalism in either language, preferably a graduate student)

Sandra Roa, City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism

Rubén Salazar Scholarships ($2,000 scholarships for students of any class standing pursuing a career in journalism in English or Spanish and in any type of medium)

*Arlinda Arriaga, University of North Texas
Dianalicia Castillo, University of La Verne
Yohanna De Los Santos, Wilkes University
Jacqueline Guzman, California State University, Northridge
Gabrielle Lopez, Hillsborough Community College
Melissa Macaya, University of Texas – Austin
Elizabeth Manzo-Oynick, California State University, Fullerton
Diana Montano, University of California, Berkeley
Jade Quintero, University of California, Berkeley
*Diego Robles, Ohio University
*Julio Salgado, California State University, Long Beach
*Jaime Velasquez, University of Texas – Austin

*These $1,000 scholarships supplemented with another $1,000 from the Newhouse Scholarships.

CNN Scholars ($2,000 scholarships for students pursuing careers in broadcast journalism in either English or Spanish)

Erika Flores, Arizona State University
Andrea P. Linares, University of Miami
Joanna Suarez, University of Miami

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