Southeastern student awarded scholarship to attend journalism convention
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
by: Tonya Lowentritt
HAMMOND – Danita Winfrey, a Southeastern Louisiana University communication major
from Baton Rouge, has received a scholarship from the Baton Rouge Area Association
of Black Journalists (BRAABJ).
The organization recently awarded four scholarships to area college students,
including Winfrey, to attend the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ)
Convention and Career Fair in Washington, D.C. in August.
The scholarships will cover the convention registration, airfare and hotel, for
a total of more than $5,000.
“We are so excited to once again give aspiring student journalists an opportunity
to attend the NABJ convention and meet journalists from across the country who can
help guide them in their careers,” said BRAABJ Founder and President Michelle McCalope.
“The experience is life changing.”
As part of the convention, students will have an opportunity to meet professional
journalists and potential employers from across the country and attend numerous professional
workshops. NABJ will host the convention, along with the National Association of Hispanic
Journalists. It will be held from Aug. 3 to Aug. 7.
“It is truly a blessing to receive this scholarship,” Winfrey said. “It feels
great that the work I’m putting in is starting to pay off. I’m excited to see what
the convention has in store for me.”
The scholarships are funded by money raised at the BRAABJ Fourth Annual Scholarship
Luncheon, which was held in April. BRAABJ has awarded thousands of dollars in scholarships
and sent seven students and two media professionals to the NABJ convention in 2014
and 2015.
BRAABJ was founded in 2012. Its mission is to promote and support journalists
of color and mentor and provide scholarships to aspiring student journalists.
