2021-2022 Recipients
Please join the Headliners Foundation's Board of Governors in congratulating the 2021-22 scholarship recipients. Click here for the Foundation’s media release announcing this year's outstanding student journalists.
Sarah and Ernest Butler Scholar
Kadija Baldé is a senior studying journalism, international relations, and French at the University of Texas at Austin. She has interned at The Drag podcast house as an audio producer and served as an editor for the Business of Books publishers and BlackPrint ATX publication. Baldé now interns at the University of Texas School of Law and has also recently accepted a media law & policy research assistant position at UT Austin’s Moody School of Journalism & Media. She aspires to one day become a lawyer dedicated to using the intersection of media law and human rights to achieve freedom of the press across the globe.
Stuart Long Scholar
Brianna Benitez is a senior at Texas State University studying public relations in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She currently serves as editor-in-chief of The University Star, Texas State’s student-run news organization. Throughout her time at The Star, Benitez has been a life and arts reporter, assistant life and arts editor, life and arts editor, public relations assistant and news editor. She also served as a project manager for The Star’s “11% Project,” a seven-month journalistic examination of Black students at Texas State. In these roles, Benitez has covered stories related to San Marcos and Texas State University. She will graduate in spring 2022 and hopes to launch her own publication centered on culture and fashion.
Jack Keever Scholar
Anna Canizales is a government major minoring in journalism and has worked at The Daily Texan since spring 2019. She has worked as a newsletter writer, general news reporter, breaking news reporter, news desk editor, associate news editor, and news editor for the Texan, and worked as a reporting fellow and copy editor at The Texas Tribune in 2021 and 2022. During her time as news editor, Canizales helped facilitate a collaboration between the Texan and the Austin American-Statesman to republish articles from Texan reporters. As managing editor, she hopes to continue to improve upon the program and potentially work toward creating similar programs with other local news organizations. She also hopes to provide support for the newsroom as it begins to transition back out of the pandemic phase and focus on mentoring and teaching new members. Anna plans to study abroad in Madrid, Spain in the fall and will graduate from UT in May 2023.
Bess Whitehead Scott scribes Scholar
Yoojin Cho is pursuing her master’s degree in mass communication at Texas State University. She has ten years of experience in broadcast journalism and continues to be a passionate storyteller now in the public information sector. She worked as a television news reporter at WWLP 22 News in Springfield, Massachusetts, Spectrum News in Charlotte, North Carolina, and KXAN News in Austin, Texas. Before making the move to TV news, she worked for the Martha’s Vineyard Times in Massachusetts. In 2019, Cho was invited to attend CNBC’s business producing workshop at the Excellence in Journalism conference. She also received a fellowship to attend the Investigative Reporter & Editors’ Data Journalism Bootcamp in 2020. She graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degrees in broadcast journalism and international relations from Boston University.
George Moore Scholar
Cecilia Garzella is a junior at the University of Texas at Austin studying journalism. In the spring of 2021, she was recognized as a Distinguished College Scholar in the Moody College of Communication. Garzella is an editorial intern at Texas Highways Magazine, the official travel magazine of Texas, and a podcast intern at The Drag Audio Production House. Previously, she worked at The Daily Texan as a news reporter. She has recently reported on and written detailed features about family caregivers surviving the COVID-19 pandemic and refugee families in Austin adjusting to virtual learning. She will graduate in the fall of 2022 and hopes to pursue a graduate degree in magazine or data journalism.
JACK KEEVER SCHOLAr
Phoebe Hayes is a junior in the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin studying communication and leadership with a minor in business. She has worked at UT’s student newspaper, The Daily Texan, for three years, and will serve as its managing editor during the spring 2022 semester. Before management, Hayes was in the Texan’s copy department. Phoebe is passionate about helping and educating those around her and wants to give back to her community via nonprofit work following graduation. She is very thankful for the Headliners Foundation!
Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Scholar
Devan Karp is a rising Senior at Trinity University. He has been the anchor at his college news broadcast, “Newswave,” for three years. He is an avid reporter, writer, editor, and future executive producer. In his time at Trinity, Karp has studied Marketing, Public Relations, Political Science, Communications, and Journalism. He is currently interning at KSAT12 ABC in San Antonio. He hopes to give back to his community through journalism the same way countless journalists gave back to him in 2017 when Hurricane Harvey inundated his community. Karp is an aspiring broadcast reporter who is looking to enter the TV news market once he graduates and is very thankful for the support from the Headliners Foundation!
Wilbur Evans Scholar
Jacqueline Knox is rising junior at the University of Texas at Austin, where she is pursuing a dual degree in Plan II Honors and Journalism along with a minor in Entrepreneurship. She is the co-founder and co-editor-in-chief of Drift Magazine, UT’s first student publication focused on the outdoors. The magazine provides an opportunity to combine her passions for journalism and the environment. Knox has interned for Texas Highways magazine and Austin Fit Monthly magazine, where she covered local and state businesses, famous athletes and Texans and produced in-depth investigative pieces. She will graduate in spring 2023 and hopes to pursue a career in magazine journalism.
Founders Scholar
Aysia Lane is a junior at Southern Methodist University (SMU) studying Journalism and Film. She is the features editor for SMU's student-run online publication, The Daily Campus, and the producer for the publication's podcast "The Pony Pod". In the spring of 2021, Lane co-wrote and co-directed a student-led documentary spotlighting the challenges of Black students at SMU. In addition to her journalistic endeavors, she is the Lead Student Ambassador for the Meadows School of the Arts. Lane will graduate in the Spring of 2023 and pursue a career in multimedia that will enable her to use her platform and skills to drive change in her community.
John "Brick" Elliott Scholar
Austin Martinez is a senior at the University of Texas at Austin studying journalism and Latinx media. She is an audience engagement intern at the Los Angeles Times and is building a publication to document Latinx communities in Texas. She has worked as a city and politics senior reporter at The Daily Texan, is a former podcast host and brand storytelling intern for the Moody College of Communication, and was a communications intern for the American GI Forum National Veterans Outreach Program. Martinez has a passion for sharing community stories and promoting access to quality news as a digital journalist. She is also a proud officer of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists at UT Austin and is a member of the NAHJ Students Committee and San Antonio chapter.
Jimmy Banks Scholar
Bec Morris is a senior at Texas A&M University studying journalism with minors in psychology and neuroscience. After serving as editor-in-chief for their high school newspaper, Morris worked for The Battalion Newspaper as a Life & Arts assistant editor, Life & Arts editor, Maroon Life Magazine editor, news editor and managing editor. Currently, they write stories for the Texas A&M Foundation newsletters and publications Spirit, Maroon, and Spirit of Sharing. Both at the Foundation and in their free time, Morris enjoys researching history and uncovering intriguing details about individuals for profile stories. They will graduate in Spring 2022 and hope to either pursue a graduate degree or begin work at a magazine.
George Christian Scholar
Sanika Nayak is a senior at the University of Texas at Austin studying speech language and hearing sciences. She is the editor-in-chief of The Daily Texan, where her vision for the paper is to create a platform for student advocacy and activism. Nayak is dedicated to keeping respectful and representative coverage at the forefront of her mission. Through editorials, submitted pieces, and longer investigative projects, she hopes to focus on accountability and amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities on campus. Prior to becoming editor-in-chief, Nayak was the diversity and inclusion internal relations director at the Texan, where she has also worked as a columnist and associate editor. She will graduate in the spring of 2022 and hopes to pursue a law degree.
Barry Bishop Scholar
Hannah Ortega is a senior journalism and rhetoric/writing double major at the University of Texas at Austin. She has worked at The Daily Texan in a variety of roles, from news reporter to videographer, since her freshman year. In summer 2021, she worked as an intern at The Drag Audio Production House, and in fall 2021, she will participate in the Disney College Program at Disney World.
Dolly and Paul Bolton Scholar
Jenny Rudolph is a senior at Southern Methodist University studying journalism and marketing. She is a reporter for her university’s student-run news station SMU-TV and is part of the William J. O’Neil Program in Business Journalism. Rudolph most recently interned as a business staff writer and SMU fellow at The Dallas Morning News, where she profiled Dallas business executives and industry leaders. She previously served as an editorial intern at D CEO Magazine, where she specialized in North Texas health care reporting. Rudolph will graduate in the spring of 2022 and is excited to pursue further opportunities in the journalism industry.
Verne Lundquist Scholar
Brady Stone is a rising senior at Texas A&M University majoring in journalism with minors in communication and agricultural communication and journalism. His interest in journalism began in high school in Hawkins, Texas. As a freshman in college, Stone joined the staff of The Battalion, Texas A&M's student newspaper, and has since held multiple positions including head page designer, news reporter, assistant news editor, and he recently completed a year-long term as editor-in-chief. in May 2021 Stone served as a part-time reporter at The Tyler Morning Telegraph and will seek other internship opportunities during the academic year. He will graduate in May 2022 and wants to pursue a career in engagement journalism or print journalism.
Jack Keever Scholar
Myah Taylor is a journalism senior at the University of Texas at Austin. She will be the managing editor for The Daily Texan during the fall 2021 semester. She spent time at The Texan covering the UT track and field team and worked the women's basketball beat as a senior reporter. She became sports editor of the paper in summer 2020. In 2021, Taylor interned at the Austin American-Statesman and Yahoo Sports, and was a writer and editor for Afterglow ATX, a campus music publication. She also serves as a writing coach for the Moody College of Communication. She is a member of the Moody College of Communication Honors Program and will graduate in May 2022. Following graduation, Taylor hopes to pursue sports or pop culture journalism and write a book someday.
Sam Wood Scholar
Drake C. Toll, a junior at Baylor University, is a Journalism, Public Relations major from Vilonia, Arkansas. During the 2020-2021 school year, he was a sports anchor and managing editor for Baylor’s Lariat TV News and tackled a new challenge as the host of a weekday sports show, “Up Tempo,” on SicEm365 Radio in Waco. Toll is also the voice of China Spring High School football, public address announcer for Baylor softball and served as the student government's class president his freshman and sophomore years. Prior to college, he was the National President of the National Beta Organization and winner of the 2019-2020 Arky Award given to Arkansas’ premiere sportscaster. Toll plans to further his career in sports media — but not before maximizing his next two years, working and learning in his dream department.
Stuart Long Scholar
Valeria Torrealba is a senior at Texas State University studying public relations and business administration. In 2020, she started as a columnist at The University Star, Texas State’s independent-run news organization, where she currently serves as the opinion editor. She is also a senior reporter for the San Antonio Sentinel, a San Antonio-based news organization. Torrealba focuses on the San Antonio, Latinx and LGBTQIA+ communities in her work. Torrealba aspires to earn her Master’s degree in Public Relations and work in the nonprofit sector.
Darrell K. Royal Scholar
Brian Yancelson is a junior at Trinity University majoring in Communication with double minors in Political Science and Sport Management. He has spent two years as sports editor of the Trinitonian, Trinity University's student newspaper, and in 2021 he helped oversee a transition to an all-digital publication for the newspaper. He has also worked with Tiger Network, the university's live broadcasting network, both as an on-camera reporter and a play-by-play broadcaster for sporting events. Before coming to Trinity, Yancelson was a Kid Reporter for Sports Illustrated Kids. That position gave him the opportunity to attend professional sporting events as a member of the press and publish more than 30 articles on the SI Kids website, sparking his interest in sports journalism.