Headliners Foundation Administers Annual Scholarships for Aspiring Journalists

AUSTIN, TX— The Headliners Foundation of Texas today announced winners of more than $70,000 in scholarships for the 2018-2019 school year. The awards go to 13 undergraduate students at schools throughout the state showing outstanding potential in journalism. In addition to strong academic records and writing ability, the 52 applicants were expected to have demonstrated their interest in journalism by working on student media or as interns for professional media outlets. The scholarships range from $3,000 to $6,000 each.

The winners are:

Founders’ Scholarships

• Sahar Chmais, Austin, TX, The University of Texas at Austin
• Luke Henkhaus, Brenham, TX, Texas A&M University
• Sierra Juarez, Austin, TX, The University of Texas at Austin
• Hannah Onder, Fort Worth, TX, Texas Wesleyan University
• Allyson Ortegon, Cibolo, TX, The University of Texas at Austin
• Megan Rodriguez, San Antonio, TX, Texas A&M University
• Caleb Wong, McKinney, TX, The University of Texas at Austin

Sarah and Ernest Butler Scholarship

• Paul Cobler, Victoria, TX, The University of Texas at Austin
• George Christian Scholarship
• Laura Hallas, Allen, TX, The University of Texas at Austin
• Stuart Long Memorial Scholarship for Aspiring Journalists
• Victoria Cavazos, Olmito, TX, St. Edward’s University
• Ashley Skinner, Bandera, TX, Texas State University

Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Scholarship

• Dani Matias, Fort Worth, TX, The University of Texas at Austin

Sam Wood Scholarship

• Corrie Coleman, Dallas, TX, Baylor University

Applications were received from students attending the following 15 colleges and universities: Amarillo College, Austin Community College, Baylor University, San Antonio College, Southern Methodist University, St. Edward's University, Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas A&M University, Texas Christian University, Texas State University, Texas Wesleyan University, University of North Texas, The University of Texas at Arlington, The University of Texas at Austin, and The University of Texas at Tyler.

“It is with great pride that we recognize these students with scholarships designed to assist them in reaching their journalistic goals. Their commitment to journalistic excellence across all disciplines is exemplary and worthy of this recognition,” said Patti C. Smith, Headliners Foundation Academic Excellence Chair and International Media Consultant. “Over 30 years ago, the Headliners Foundation was established by members of the Headliners Club in Austin to recognize this commitment to journalism. Providing these substantial scholarships to students across the state is one of the important ways we carry out that mission.”

In addition to the $70,000 noted above, the Foundation will award the Jack Keever Scholarship to the managing editor of The Daily Texan at UT-Austin each semester of the 2018-19 academic year, bringing the total in scholarship awards to $72,500.

The Founders Scholarships are named in remembrance of the contributions of early benefactors to the Headliners Foundation, whose gifts provided the funding vehicle for Foundation scholarships and to provide matching grants for substantial future gifts in support of journalism education: Jimmy Banks, Barry Bishop, Paul Bolton, George Christian, John “Brick” Elliott, Wilbur Evans, Jack E. Keever, George Moore, Joe Roddy, Darrell Royal, and Sam S. Wood.

This is the third year for the Headliners Foundation of Texas to name a Butler Scholar, the Foundation’s newest endowed scholarship made possible by longtime Headliners Club members and Foundation supporters Sarah and Ernest Butler.

The George Christian Scholarship was created in 2012 to honor the late journalist and former press secretary to President Lyndon B. Johnson.

This is the fourth year for the Headliners Foundation of Texas to administer the Stuart Long Memorial Scholarships for Aspiring Journalists. The Long Scholarships honor the memory of Stuart Long, who died in 1977 after a journalism career that began during the early 1930s. Long founded the Long News Service, a state capital news agency, in the mid-1940s and operated it until the time of his death. Funds for Stuart Long scholarships were raised from the sale of tickets and program advertisements for Gridiron Shows staged almost every year from 1978 to 2000 by the Austin Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Profits from the shows were invested, with scholarships paid from the earnings. These funds – about $140,000 – are matched with Headliners Foundation Founders’ funds each year.

The Texas Associated Press Broadcasters (TAPB) Scholarship is an ongoing partnership with TAPB and the Headliners Foundation to recognize an outstanding student pursuing a degree in the field of broadcast journalism.

The Sam Wood Scholarship was created in 1991 to honor the former editor of the Austin American-Statesman, who along with several other local members of the press, helped charter the Headliners Club.

For more information about the scholarship program and a listing of prior years’ scholarship recipients, please visit www.headlinersfoundation.org. Profiles of the 2018-2019 scholarship recipient profiles will be posted this summer.