2016-2017 Recipients
Below are profiles of the Headliners Foundation’s 2016-2017 scholarship recipients. Click here for the Foundation’s media release announcing scholarship recipients.
Founder’s Scholar
Marisa Charpentier is a junior at The University of Texas at Austin studying journalism and Plan II Honors. In addition to pursuing a dual degree, Marisa is a part of the Creative Writing Certificate program and working toward a Spanish minor. She will spend the summer of 2016 in a language immersion program in Santander, Spain. Since the first semester of her freshman year, Marisa has worked at The Daily Texan, first as a Life&Arts writer, then as a Life&Arts Associate Editor and finally as a Special Ventures reporter. In spring 2016, she worked as an editorial intern for Austin Woman magazine. Her main interest is long-form writing, and she hopes to work as a reporter at a major news publication covering a variety of social issues.
Founder’s Scholar
Nicole Cobler is a journalism senior at the University of Texas at Austin. During fall 2016, she will work as a reporting fellow for the Texas Tribune, where she previously served as an investigative reporting fellow for the publication’s “Bordering on Insecurity” project. Additionally, Nicole was a summer 2016 fellow for News21 – a national student investigative reporting project at Arizona State University – covering voting access and participation in the U.S. She previously interned at the San Antonio Express-News, the Austin American-Statesman and spent several semesters at The Daily Texan, UT’s student newspaper. She will graduate in May 2017 and hopes to pursue a career in print journalism, focusing on politics and investigative reporting.
Stuart Long Memorial Scholarship for Aspiring Journalists
Rosemond Crown is Sierra Leonean native and a junior at St. Edward’s University studying English Writing and Rhetoric with a concentration in Journalism. She has worked as a reporter and Viewpoints editor for Hilltop Views, the student newspaper at St. Edward’s . In the Fall of 2015 she worked as an investigative intern with KXAN-TV in Austin. While her love for journalism began with print, Rosemond hopes to pursue a career in broadcast journalism. She is a proficient reporter and a compelling storyteller. With those skills she hopes to shed light on issues that often go unnoticed. Rosemond currently serves as the online editor-in- chief at Hilltop Views and will continue in that role in Fall 2016. She will graduate in May 2017 and plans to attend graduate school while also seeking experience in journalism.
Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Scholar
Andrea Czobor is a sophomore broadcast journalism student at the Frank and Sue W. Mayborn School of Journalism at The University of North Texas working toward her dream career goal of producing and hosting her own entertainment show. She produces for the Emmy award-winning entertainment show North Texas Now, serves as President of her chapter of National Association of Hispanic Journalists and Vice President of Broadcast Education Association and works as the Community Outreach executive chair for TEDxUNT. She won the Dow Jones Multimedia Scholarship in 2016 for her Mayborn Multimedia Summer 2015 Workshop news package discussing racial amnesia with award-winning journalists Jeff Chang and Chris Vognar. She is humbled to be supported so generously by the Headliners Foundation of Texas in pursuing her ultimate goal of becoming a professional and impactful journalist.
Darrell K. Royal Scholar
Amanda Danielle González is a junior at St. Edward’s University in Austin, majoring in English Writing and Rhetoric with a concentration in journalism and a minor in Spanish. Serving as the sports editor for Hilltop Views, she has been a consistent student-writer for the school newspaper throughout her time at St. Edward’s. Originally from McAllen, Texas, she grew up playing and watching sports. She discovered her passion for writing at Pharr-San Juan-Alamo North Early College High School, then continued on her journalism path in college. After graduating in December of 2017, González plans to continue sharing inspirational athletes’ stories, in hopes of inspiring others to be hardworking and humble.
Stuart Long Memorial Scholarship for Aspiring Journalists
Anna Herod is a print journalism and political science double-major in her junior year at Texas State University. Before heading to San Marcos to begin her college career, Anna interned at Star Group Media where her stories and photos were published in three different community newspapers including The Burleson Star, The Crowley Star and The Joshua Star. Once she arrived at Texas State, Anna immediately began working for The University Star where she was a reporter, senior news reporter, assistant news editor and news editor through out her five semesters at the publication. Additionally, Anna was the city council beat reporter for Hays Free Press in Kyle, Texas, during the spring of 2016. Now, Anna is back to her job as a senior news reporter at The University Star as she prepares to intern at The Austin American-Statesman this fall.
Founder’s Scholar
Megan Hix is a senior at the University of Texas at Austin studying journalism and government. She has written for online news website The Horn and interned at Austin Monthly magazine. For the last four semesters, she has worked at UT’s student-run newspaper, The Daily Texan, as a copy editor, Life&Arts writer and now, Life&Arts editor. Megan will graduate in May 2017 and plans to pursue a career as a magazine writer and editor.
Sam Wood Scholar
Rae Jefferson studies journalism and film at Baylor University. A senior, she has worked for the campus newspaper, the Baylor Lariat, for several years as a reporter, arts and entertainment editor and copy desk chief. Jefferson has also worked as a features reporter for the San Antonio Express-News. This year she serves as the public relations intern at local nonprofit Creative Waco, and believes she can incorporate her experiences in news and public relations to tell stories that better the community in which she lives.
Founder’s Scholar
Sam King is a communication senior at Texas A&M University in College Station. Sam served as the news editor of The Battalion, the student-run, daily newspaper of Texas A&M for the 2015-2016 school year and will serve as its editor-in- chief for the 2016-2017 school year. She has found a niche in political reporting and plans on continuing this in the future. Sam aided in the formation of a non-profit organization, With Purpose-College Station, whose goal is to fundraise for pediatric cancer. Sam will also act as a student ambassador in Gig the Vote, an initiative aimed at encouraging students to get to the polls and get involved in local and national politics.
George Christian Scholar
James Rodriguez is a Plan II Honors and Business Honors junior at the University of Texas at Austin. As a writer for The Daily Texan, James spent a year covering the women’s varsity rowing team before joining the Life&Arts section. There he discovered a passion for writing features, and wrote avidly on UT alumni and students, particularly those in Austin’s vibrant arts scene. In his role as the Communications Vice President for the Honors Business Association, James edited the weekly newsletter, created and maintained a website, and oversaw a committee of dedicated bloggers, designers and photographers. James spent last summer studying abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and hopes to return as a journalist one day. James plans to graduate in May 2018.
Sarah and Ernest Butler Scholar
Jackie Wang is a senior at The University of Texas at Austin, studying journalism and government. She works for the on-campus newspaper, The Daily Texan, as managing editor. She has covered state elections, legislative issues and city government during her time at The Daily Texan. Jackie also works at the Austin American-Statesman as a social content producer. She plans on pursuing a career in political reporting or exploring magazine and long-form journalism.
Founder’s Scholar
Caleb Wong is a Plan II and government sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin. Caleb has worked three semesters at The Daily Texan as a general reporter, news desk editor and a senior reporter covering the higher education beat. Caleb also has worked at the Blanton Museum of Art as an education intern and a writing consultant at the University Writing Center. He will be interning for The New York Times as a copy editing intern this summer through the Dow Jones News Fund. Caleb will graduate in May 2018.2018-2019 Recipients