Sarah and Ernest Butler Scholarship

In support of academic excellence, Headliners Club members Sarah and Ernest Butler have made a generous endowment gift to the Foundation to establish the Sarah and Ernest Butler Scholarship.

This gift from the Butlers will created a new, annual scholarship in their name, adding to the portfolio of scholarships the Foundation awards each year through a competitive, judged process based on academic merit and demonstrated interest in a journalism career.

“Dr. and Mrs. Butler are outstanding philanthropists in the Austin community and beyond, and the Foundation is exceedingly grateful for their support of our programs,” said Mark Morrison, then Foundation Board Chairman.

“The Headliners Foundation has awarded scholarships to outstanding students for 30 years, and this year alone we received 45 applications,” said Patti Smith, Chair of the Academic Excellence Committee, which oversees the scholarship selection process.. “The Sarah and Ernest Butler Scholarship will allow us to further our mission of promoting excellence in Texas journalism by supporting future journalists as they earn degrees in the field,” said Smith.

Annually the Foundation hosts the Mike Quinn luncheon, where scholarship winners and industry professionals are recognized and receive their awards. In 2016, the Butlers were honored at the luncheon for their endowment gift.

“Sarah and I have been members of the Headliners Club for 30 years. We have attended many Quinn luncheons, and we recognize the role the Foundation plays in supporting the next generation of journalists,” said Ernest Butler. “We are glad to help support the outstanding students who will bring us news in the future,” said Butler.