RTDNF is proud to announce the 2010 Scholarship & Fellowship winners.
Between Dec. 6 & Dec. 22, 2010 check in at RTDNA.org, where we will be releasing the name and information of winners each day!
Dec. 22, 2010: "Vada and Colonel Barney Oldfield National Security Reporting Fellowship" - An award created by the RTDNF board of trustees to honor the founder of RTDNF. Barney and Vada Oldfield served in WWII and both had illustrious military careers. Barney’s impressive career included a stint as a Hollywood studio publicist, WWII Army and postwar Air Force public relations officer, author, lecturer, businessman and philanthropist who founded more than 40 private foundations—including RTDNF. This award recognizes excellence in coverage of national defense and security issues by a reporter or producer.
2010 Vada and Colonel Barney Oldfield National Security Reporting Fellowship Winner - Jamie Mannion
__________________________________________________________________________________
Dec. 21, 2010: "Ed Bradley Scholarship"- In 1994, RTDNF presented the first Ed Bradley Scholarship. Since then, 15 young and aspiring journalists have received the award created by the late CBS News and 60 Minutes correspondent.
Ed Bradley received the Paul White Award from RTDNA in 2000. The Paul White Award recognizes an individual's lifetime commitment to excellence in journalism. Bradley received the First Amendment Award from RTDNF in 2005 in recognition of his support of the First Amendment rights guaranteed in the Constitution.
.jpg)
2010 Ed Bradley Scholarship Winner - Lance Frank
Lance Frank is a senior at Louisiana State University majoring in mass communication: journalism in the Manship School of Mass Communication and minoring in political science. Frank has worked in both TV and newspaper newsrooms since he was a teenager. He got his start at KPLC TV in Lake Charles, volunteering as a high school intern and later as a teen reporter. His senior year of high school, he worked at the local paper, "American Press," as a news intern where he published several articles ranging from front-page crime stories to human-interest pieces. Frank was a CBS News intern in New York during the summer of 2009. He currently works at WAFB in Baton Rouge as an associate producer and also reports on local features stories for the 9 p.m. newscast. Frank is honored to receive such an esteemed award associated with one of journalism's giants. He looks up to Mr. Bradley's talent and passion for his craft.
Ed Bradley received the Paul White Award from RTDNA in 2000. The Paul White Award recognizes an individual's lifetime commitment to excellence in journalism. Bradley received the First Amendment Award from RTDNF in 2005 in recognition of his support of the First Amendment rights guaranteed in the Constitution.
2010 Ed Bradley Scholarship Winner - Lance FrankLance Frank is a senior at Louisiana State University majoring in mass communication: journalism in the Manship School of Mass Communication and minoring in political science. Frank has worked in both TV and newspaper newsrooms since he was a teenager. He got his start at KPLC TV in Lake Charles, volunteering as a high school intern and later as a teen reporter. His senior year of high school, he worked at the local paper, "American Press," as a news intern where he published several articles ranging from front-page crime stories to human-interest pieces. Frank was a CBS News intern in New York during the summer of 2009. He currently works at WAFB in Baton Rouge as an associate producer and also reports on local features stories for the 9 p.m. newscast. Frank is honored to receive such an esteemed award associated with one of journalism's giants. He looks up to Mr. Bradley's talent and passion for his craft.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Dec. 20, 2010: "Abe Schechter Graduate Scholarship" (2 awarded in 2010) - Abe Schechter, a true pioneer of radio news, became the first vice president of news for NBC. He began his career in newspapers, then moved to radio. During World War II, he became senior public relations officer for General MacArthur. He eventually returned to NBC where he helped create the Today show. From there, he became part owner of the Mutual Broadcasting System. In the 1960s Schechter founded a PR firm that he and his business partner, former RTDNF Trustee George Glazer subsequently sold to Hill & Knowlton. Schechter and his wife died in a car accident in 1989, and this $2,000 scholarship was established in his memory.
2010 Abe Schechter Graduate Scholarship Winner - Whitney Pennington
Whitney Pennington is a first year student at the University of California- Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism studying documentary production. Before coming to Berkeley, she was a producer for the Emmy Award-winning public affairs series, One-on-One with Steve Adubato and project director for Stand & Deliver, a communication and leadership program for urban youth. Whitney aspires to become a documentary filmmaker and is interested in bringing attention to issues relative to youth, women and people of color. She received her bachelors degree in journalism and media studies from Rutgers University. For more information on Whitney and to view her work samples, please visit Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism website.
Click here to view some of Whitney's work!
Click here to view some of Whitney's work!
_________________________________________________________________________________
Dec. 17, 2010: "Jacque Minnotte Health Reporting Fellowship" - This award recognizes excellence in health or medical television and radio reporting
2010 Jacque Minnotte Health Reporting Fellowship Winner - Sabriya Rice
Sabriya Rice is a producer in the Cable News Network's Health & Wellness unit. She works with senior medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen to research, produce and write medical segments for CNN television, and is a frequent contributor to the weekly Empowered Patient column on CNN.com. Before joining Elizabeth Cohen's production team, Sabriya worked on House Call with Dr. Sanjay Gupta and also did research and fact checking for the CNN National Desk. Sabriya Rice received her Masters in Communication Studies from the University of Miami and her Bachelor of Film, Television and Theatre from the University of Notre Dame.
Click here to view some of Sabriya's work
2010 Jacque Minnotte Health Reporting Fellowship Winner - Sabriya RiceSabriya Rice is a producer in the Cable News Network's Health & Wellness unit. She works with senior medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen to research, produce and write medical segments for CNN television, and is a frequent contributor to the weekly Empowered Patient column on CNN.com. Before joining Elizabeth Cohen's production team, Sabriya worked on House Call with Dr. Sanjay Gupta and also did research and fact checking for the CNN National Desk. Sabriya Rice received her Masters in Communication Studies from the University of Miami and her Bachelor of Film, Television and Theatre from the University of Notre Dame.
Click here to view some of Sabriya's work
_________________________________________________________________________________
Dec. 16, 2010: "Presidents Scholarship" - Two $1,000 awards given in honor of former RTDNA Presidents Theodore Koop, Bruce Dennis, James McCulla, John Salisbury, Bruce Palmer, Dick Cheverton, Jim Byron, Ben Chatfield and John Hogan.
2010 Presidents Scholarship Winners - Abbey Niezgoda & Monica Yantosh
Abbey Niezgoda is a multimedia journalist with a passion for working both behind and in front of the camera. She shoots, edits, reports, and enterprises her own stories in Boston, MA. From city budget problems to the Boston Marathon, Abbey produces hyperlocal content on a deadline. Her work as a reporter/photographer has been featured on the homepage of CNN.com, receiving over 200,000 views. Abbey also anchors news updates during the morning and afternoon commute on WERS 88.9 FM. She has won several Associated Press awards for her work on Emerson’s student run TV news station, EIV News, including breaking news and investigative reporting. Her contributions to EIV helped the station win the EMMY for Best College Newscast two years in a row. Originally from Houston, Texas, Abbey is currently a senior at Emerson College, graduating in May 2011. You can view her latest work, blog posts and more on www.abbeytv.com.
Click here to view Abbey's work
Monica Yantosh is a junior Broadcast Journalism major at Elon University. She was born and raised in Worcester, Pennsylvania. Monica has been a part of Elon's award winning campus news station, Phoenix14News, since fall of her freshman year. As a member of Phoenix14News, Monica has served as reporter, anchor, and producer, as well as foreign correspondent from Dublin, Ireland where she spent the 2010 fall semester. This past summer, she interned in the Investigators Unit at NBC 10 Philadelphia (WCAU).
Click here to view Monica's work
2010 Presidents Scholarship Winners - Abbey Niezgoda & Monica YantoshAbbey Niezgoda is a multimedia journalist with a passion for working both behind and in front of the camera. She shoots, edits, reports, and enterprises her own stories in Boston, MA. From city budget problems to the Boston Marathon, Abbey produces hyperlocal content on a deadline. Her work as a reporter/photographer has been featured on the homepage of CNN.com, receiving over 200,000 views. Abbey also anchors news updates during the morning and afternoon commute on WERS 88.9 FM. She has won several Associated Press awards for her work on Emerson’s student run TV news station, EIV News, including breaking news and investigative reporting. Her contributions to EIV helped the station win the EMMY for Best College Newscast two years in a row. Originally from Houston, Texas, Abbey is currently a senior at Emerson College, graduating in May 2011. You can view her latest work, blog posts and more on www.abbeytv.com.
Click here to view Abbey's work
Monica Yantosh is a junior Broadcast Journalism major at Elon University. She was born and raised in Worcester, Pennsylvania. Monica has been a part of Elon's award winning campus news station, Phoenix14News, since fall of her freshman year. As a member of Phoenix14News, Monica has served as reporter, anchor, and producer, as well as foreign correspondent from Dublin, Ireland where she spent the 2010 fall semester. This past summer, she interned in the Investigators Unit at NBC 10 Philadelphia (WCAU).
Click here to view Monica's work
__________________________________________________________________________
Dec. 15, 2010: "Pete Wilson Scholarship" - The Pete Wilson Journalism Scholarship was established in 2007 by Wilson's friends and colleagues. The scholarship is granted to an undergraduate or graduate journalism student from the Bay area who shares Wilson's commitment to ethical, responsible journalism.
2010 Pete Wilson Scholarship Winner - Alyssa Fetini
Alyssa Fetini is a first- year student at UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism, specializing in TV and Documentary. After graduating with a Bachelors degree in philosophy from the University of Michigan- Ann Arbor in 2007, Fetini moved to New York City and worked with Arabic news network, Al Jazeera, producing stories and booking interviews with ambassadors and high-level officials in the station’s United Nations bureau. Before arriving at Cal in August of 2010, Fetini spent the last two and a half years at TIME Magazine where she contributed to the Briefing section of the magazine and wrote a variety of hard news and lifestyle pieces for time.com. She hopes to put her television production skills to use after graduation as an editor for long-form television or documentary film.
Fetini's winning piece, "A Gas Pedal Built for Stilettos" is the first video she ever worked on for time.com. She test drove the Chevy Equinox, the first car of its kind to offer a specialized gas pedal to accommodate high heels, and reported on the experience.
Click here to view some of Alyssa's work
2010 Pete Wilson Scholarship Winner - Alyssa Fetini
Alyssa Fetini is a first- year student at UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism, specializing in TV and Documentary. After graduating with a Bachelors degree in philosophy from the University of Michigan- Ann Arbor in 2007, Fetini moved to New York City and worked with Arabic news network, Al Jazeera, producing stories and booking interviews with ambassadors and high-level officials in the station’s United Nations bureau. Before arriving at Cal in August of 2010, Fetini spent the last two and a half years at TIME Magazine where she contributed to the Briefing section of the magazine and wrote a variety of hard news and lifestyle pieces for time.com. She hopes to put her television production skills to use after graduation as an editor for long-form television or documentary film.Fetini's winning piece, "A Gas Pedal Built for Stilettos" is the first video she ever worked on for time.com. She test drove the Chevy Equinox, the first car of its kind to offer a specialized gas pedal to accommodate high heels, and reported on the experience.
Click here to view some of Alyssa's work
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Dec. 14, 2010: "Ken Kashiwahara Scholarship" - Ken Kashiwahara is an award winning broadcast journalist who spent 25 years with ABC News. Before his retirement in 1998, he served as ABC’s San Francisco Bureau Chief. One of the first prominent Asian American correspondents, his work took him around the world to cover major news stories including the 1975 the fall of Saigon, where he was one of the last American correspondents airlifted out of the city; the Lebanon civil war; and the aftermath of the Tienanmen Square riots. He also spearheaded ABC’s coverage of redress for Japanese Americans interned during World War II.2010 Ken Kashiwahara Scholarship Winner - Jeannette Reyes
Jeannette Reyes is a junior broadcast journalism major at Kent State University. She has been involved in Kent State’s student media for three years. Freshman year she was co-creator and co-host of Black Squirrel Radio’s El Caribe. The station first bilingual radio show. She has been a co-anchor, anchor and reporter for TV2 News, KSU’s Live News station. Jeannette is also the co-founder and former president of the Spanish and Latino Student Association. A student organization that raises awareness about Latino and Hispanic issues. Jeannette, a Dominican, Would eventually like to work for CNN or CNN En Espanol covering issues that affect the Latino and Hispanic community.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Dec. 13, 2010: "The Carole Simpson Scholarship" - Carole Simpson is a former member of the Radio Television Digital News Foundation Board of Trustees. She established the Carole Simpson Scholarship to encourage and help minority students overcome hurdles along their career path. Carole Simpson Scholarship winners are working as reporters, producers and anchors in television and radio stations across the country.2010 Carole Simpson Scholarship Winner - Gardenia Coleman
Gardenia Coleman is a Barrett Honors College student at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School. She is a junior in the
BA/MMC program studying broadcast journalism and mass communication.Campus involvement is an important element of Gardenia’s education. She serves on a Barrett Student Advisory Board, works on campus as a Student Success Coach and volunteers as an Obama Scholars Mentor to incoming freshman.
She is currently developing her honors thesis and will defend in Spring 2011. A recent accomplishment is the completion of her first group documentary, The Keepers. Gardenia directed and co-produced this story; a unique and touching journey behind the scenes with zookeepers and the animals they care for. Because of this valuable experience, she includes documentary production in her list of ambitions.
Additionally, as a self-proclaimed NPR junkie, Gardenia loves the art of storytelling and aspires to contribute as a reporter/producer for public radio or television. Gardenia is currently a reporter/producer intern with PHX11, the city of Phoenix government station. This experience has been instrumental in her growth as a journalist.
Click here to view some of Gardenia's work!
________________________________________________________________________
Dec. 10, 2010: "Lou and Carole Prato Sports Reporting Scholarship"Lou Prato was RTDNA treasurer from 1981 to 2001 and served as secretary of RTDNF's Board of Trustees until 2006. Prato's friends and colleagues have endowed an RTDNF scholarship in honor of Lou and his wife, Carole. The scholarship provides a $1,000 tuition grant to a deserving student who is planning a career as a sports reporter in television or radio.
Lou has worked as a news director, a journalism professor, a consultant, and Director of the Penn State All Sports Museum. Lou and his wife Carole live near his alma mater, Penn State University. He is the author of The Penn State Football Encyclopedia.
2010 Lou and Carole Prato Sports Reporting Scholarship Winner - Jacquelyn Adams
Jacquelyn Adams is a junior at Elon University in North Carolina and a Journalism major, with an emphasis in Broadcast News.She became involved with Elon’s student news organization, Phoenix14News, as a freshman starting out as a reporter, covering news and sports. Last year, she turned her focus solely to sports and was the Co-Sports Anchor and Producer for Phoenix14News, responsible for putting together game highlights and one-man-banding a sports story every other week.
Look below to view some of Jacquelyn's work!
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Dec. 9, 2010: "N.S. Bienstock Fellowship" An award established in 1999 by N.S. Bienstock, Inc. owners, Richard Leibner and Carole Cooper. N.S. Bienstock has been a leading talent agency in news and reality-based programming for more than 35 years and is a long-time member of RTDNA. This award recognizes a promising minority journalist in radio or television news.
In addition to the $2,500 award, winners of the N.S. Bienstock Fellowship receive an expenses paid trip to the RTDNA International Conference.
2010 N.S. Bienstock Fellowship Winner - Emilia Askari
Emilia has more than 20 years experience as a prize-winning reporter with large newspapers, including the Detroit Free Press and the Miami Herald. Two years ago, she left the newsroom for the classroom, entering a master’s program at the University of Michigan’s School of Information, where she’s studying social computing, human-computer interaction, video game design and other skills of digital journalism. Emilia has won more than a dozen journalism prizes and fellowships from organizations such as the National Press Club, Investigative Reporters and Editors and the Knight-Wallace Fellowships at Michigan. Emilia has taught environmental journalism for a decade as a lecturer at the University of Michigan and among the founders of the Society of Environmental Journalists, serving as its second president and overseeing the drafting of the group’s first strategic plan. Emilia has a bachelor’s degree in economics and creative writing from Brown University and a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University. Last year, Emilia helped managers at the Huffington Post Investigative Fund develop a social media strategy for the Fund’s website. Currently, she’s working on a master’s thesis about the news habits of Arab American middle schoolers.
In addition to the $2,500 award, winners of the N.S. Bienstock Fellowship receive an expenses paid trip to the RTDNA International Conference.
Emilia has more than 20 years experience as a prize-winning reporter with large newspapers, including the Detroit Free Press and the Miami Herald. Two years ago, she left the newsroom for the classroom, entering a master’s program at the University of Michigan’s School of Information, where she’s studying social computing, human-computer interaction, video game design and other skills of digital journalism. Emilia has won more than a dozen journalism prizes and fellowships from organizations such as the National Press Club, Investigative Reporters and Editors and the Knight-Wallace Fellowships at Michigan. Emilia has taught environmental journalism for a decade as a lecturer at the University of Michigan and among the founders of the Society of Environmental Journalists, serving as its second president and overseeing the drafting of the group’s first strategic plan. Emilia has a bachelor’s degree in economics and creative writing from Brown University and a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University. Last year, Emilia helped managers at the Huffington Post Investigative Fund develop a social media strategy for the Fund’s website. Currently, she’s working on a master’s thesis about the news habits of Arab American middle schoolers.
__________________________________________________________________________
Dec. 8, 2010: "Abe Schechter Graduate Scholarship" - Abe Schechter, a true pioneer of radio news, became the first vice president of news for NBC. He began his career in newspapers, then moved to radio. During World War II, he became senior public relations officer for General MacArthur. He eventually returned to NBC where he helped create the Today show. From there, he became part owner of the Mutual Broadcasting System. In the 1960s Schechter founded a PR firm that he and his business partner, former RTDNF Trustee George Glazer subsequently sold to Hill & Knowlton. Schechter and his wife died in a car accident in 1989, and this $2,000 scholarship was established in his memory.
2010 Abe Schechter Graduate Scholarship Winner - Joe Danielewicz
Joe Danielewicz is currently a student at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He is in the broadcast program, hoping to cover foreign news after school. Prior to moving to New York, Joe was a freelance producer in Washington, DC. He mainly worked with Fox News Channel, including over two years at Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace. Prior to working at Fox, Joe worked as a newscast producer and assignment editor at WDTN-TV (NBC affiliate) in his hometown of Dayton, Ohio. Other work and internship experience includes NBC News Channel, British broadcaster ITN / Channel 4 News, C-SPAN, National Public Radio and WMUB-FM. Joe is a graduate of Miami University (Oxford, OH) and Sinclair Community College (Dayton, OH).
2010 Abe Schechter Graduate Scholarship Winner - Joe DanielewiczJoe Danielewicz is currently a student at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He is in the broadcast program, hoping to cover foreign news after school. Prior to moving to New York, Joe was a freelance producer in Washington, DC. He mainly worked with Fox News Channel, including over two years at Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace. Prior to working at Fox, Joe worked as a newscast producer and assignment editor at WDTN-TV (NBC affiliate) in his hometown of Dayton, Ohio. Other work and internship experience includes NBC News Channel, British broadcaster ITN / Channel 4 News, C-SPAN, National Public Radio and WMUB-FM. Joe is a graduate of Miami University (Oxford, OH) and Sinclair Community College (Dayton, OH).
____________________________________________________________________________
Dec. 7, 2010: "George Foreman Tribute to Lyndon B. Johnson Scholarship" - The George Foreman Tribute to Lyndon Baines Johnson scholarship is a $6,000 award given to a journalism student from the University of Texas at Austin. George Foreman is a boxing champion, Olympic gold medal winner and celebrated pitchman. As a young man, he was inspired by President Lyndon Johnson and by RTDNF founder Barney Oldfield. In his autobiography "By George," Foreman credits LBJ's Job Corps program for rescuing him "from the gutter." He also thanks Barney Oldfield "for a lifetime of friendship, devotion, counsel, and wisdom. The world would be a far better place if everyone were lucky enough to have a friend like you."
2010 George Foreman Tribute to Lyndon B. Johnson Scholarship Winner - Isaiah RosarioIsaiah is a fourth-year Broadcast Journalism major at the University of Texas at Austin who will be graduating with a Bachelors degree in Journalism with two certificates in Business Foundations and Sports Journalism. He works at Texas Student Television (TSTV), the student-run TV station on campus and has put togehter packages, shot highlights, and done on-air work for KVR News, College Pressbox and College Crossfire (all shows on TSTV). Isaiah also writes for an online publication called The Horn (readthehorn.com) as a sports writer and interns with KXAN (NBC affiliate) in Austin in its sports department and with KVIA (ABC affiliate) in El Paso in their sports department whenever he is home.
Click here for a sample of Isaiah's work!
______________________________________________________________________
Winners of the Michele Clark Fellowships receive an expenses-paid trip to the RTDNA International Conference.
2010 Michele Clark Fellowship Winner - Ko ImKo Im comes from Guam, where "America's day begins." She joined WBOC-TV in Salisbury, Md. in October 2009 and was recently named weekend anchor at the station. She enjoys chasing breaking news and meeting people everyday.
Ko graduated from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, where she won the local reporting award. For her undergraduate degree, she studied communications and international relations at the University of Pennsylvania.
Prior to the Eastern Shore, Ko worked at Time.com and NY1 News/Noticias. She has also interned at a variety of newsrooms-- including seattletimes.com, National Public Radio, KYW and CNN.
Ko is the community liaison for the D.C. chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association and sits on the community board of Delmarva Public Radio. Her favorite hobby is travel. She hopes to use the RTDNF Fellowship to follow out-of-peninsula stories that pertain to WBOC's viewers.
Watch below for a sample of Ko's work!
