Two New Scholarships Among AAJA’s 2006 Programs

The Asian American Journalists Association is awarding the largest amount of student scholarships in its history.

“We are grateful that these major media companies and supporters recognize the need to diversify newsrooms by encouraging young people to become journalists,” said AAJA executive director Rene Astudillo. “By increasing the number of Asian American and Pacific Islander representation in the media, we can be assured that our communities are being fairly and accurately covered.”

The deadline for all scholarship applications is March 10, 2006. Applications are available on the organization’s web site at www.aaja.org.

AAJA’s 2006 scholarship program features:

AAJA-CNN 25 Scholar Program

In commemoration of CNN’s 25th anniversary in 2005 and AAJA’s 25th anniversary this year, this new program will award the largest scholarships in AAJA history. Over the next three years from 2006-2008, a total of 12 graduating high school students will be given four-year scholarships of $25,000 each toward broadcast and online college majors.

Vincent Chin Memorial Scholarship

Since his death in 1982, Vincent Chin has become one of the icons for Asian American civil rights and intolerance of hate crimes. Through this new scholarship made possible by Texas philanthropist Felix Chen, AAJA will award $5,000 a year in 2006, 2007 and 2008 to a journalism student committed to keeping Vincent Chin’s memory alive.

AAJA/Cox Foundation Scholarship

In partnership with the Cox Foundation, AAJA continues to support students pursuing careers in print, broadcast or photo journalism with awards of up to $2,500.

AAJA/S.I. Newhouse Foundation Scholarships

In partnership with the S.I. Newhouse Foundation, AAJA offers awards of up to $5,000 each to college students pursuing careers in print journalism. While the scholarship is open to all students, AAJA especially encourages applicants from historically underrepresented Asian American and Pacific Islander groups, including Vietnamese, Cambodians, Hmong and other Southeast Asians, South Asians and Pacific Islanders. S.I. Newhouse scholarship winners will be eligible for summer internships with a Newhouse publication. Last year, the program awarded a total of $25,000.

Minoru Yasui Memorial Scholarship

AAJA offers $2,000 to a promising Asian American male broadcaster. A civil rights advocate and attorney, Minoru Yasui was one of three Nisei who challenged the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.

Mary Moy Quan Ing Memorial Scholarship

AAJA offers $2,000 to a graduating high school senior who is enrolling in college and pursuing a journalism career. This award was established by a retired Washington Post editor who named this scholarship in honor of her late mother.

Since its founding in 1981, AAJA has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships and internships to more than 500 students pursuing a career in journalism. AAJA is a non-profit professional development and educational organization with more than 2,000 members today. AAJA’s mission is to promote fair and accurate news coverage of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs), encourage young people to enter journalism as a career, and provide professional development training to support AAPIs in news management. AAJA, a partner organization of UNITY: Journalists of Color, is committed to diversity.

The application for AAJA student scholarships is available at www.aaja.org in the Student Programs section. AAJA is a resource for thousands of students each year, as the organization continuously announces scholarships from media companies. For more information about AAJA student scholarships or programs, contact Brandon Sugiyama, student programs coordinator, at (415) 346-2051 x102 or e-mail BrandonS@aaja.org.

Source: Asian American Journalists Association

Related Tags: Asian American Journalists Association, Brandon Sugiyama, Cambodians, CNN, CNN's 25th anniversary, College, Cox Foundation, Education News, Felix Chen, Hmong, Journalists of Color, Mary Moy Quan, media, Minoru Yasui, Minoru Yasui Memorial Scholarship, online college majors, Pacific Islander, Rene Astudillo, S.I. Newhouse Foundation, Scholarship