2023-2024 Recipients
Please join the Headliners Foundation's Board of Governors in congratulating the 2023-24 scholarship recipients. Click here for the Foundation’s media release announcing this year's outstanding student journalists.
Bess Whitehead Scott Scribes Scholar
Jill Ament was born and raised in Central Texas. She received her undergraduate degree in electronic media from Texas State University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication in 2012. She was a producer at KCEN-TV in Waco. She then produced for Spectrum News in Austin, eventually producing their nightly political program, Capital Tonight. Jill spearheaded live, on-site coverage of the 2016 presidential election including the station’s coverage of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, and the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.
Jill then went on to work at UT-Austin’s public radio, KUT 90.5. She specifically was a producer and reporter for the statewide public radio program, the Texas Standard. Her reporting with the Texas Standard garnered her a first place National Headliner Award, a regional Edward R. Murrow Award, a first place Associated Press Broadcasters Award, and first and second place awards with the Public Media Journalists Association.
Jill is now a professor of practice with Texas State University’s SJMC. She’s also a faculty adviser for Texas State’s student-led radio station, KTSW 89.9. Her hope is to inspire students to become mass media professionals and journalists and to provide them the foundation to pursue those careers.
Jill is currently working on finishing up her master’s degree with the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Journalism and Media.
Sarah and Ernest Butler Scholar
Jaquelyn Burrer is an undergraduate student at Texas State University working towards a dual degree in History and Journalism with a minor in Chinese. This summer, Burrer will be working as an intern for two months in Washington, D.C. with The Fund for American Studies. In the past, Burrer served as a ccntent team intern with The Borgen Project, a non-profit organization working to advocate for those in global poverty through U.S. foreign policy. She is a member of Phi Alpha Delta, Investigative Reporters and Editors, the Texas State Honors College and is currently helping start a Chinese Cultural Club at Texas State. Burrer will graduate in the spring of 2025 and hopes to work in either foreign affairs journalism or to attend law school to pursue constitutional or media law.
Ellen and Mark Morrison Scholar
Mantra Dave is an incoming senior at the University of Texas at Austin majoring in Plan II Honors, Marketing, and Geography and minoring in History. He was the spring 2023 managing editor at The Daily Texan, which capped off a three-year stint at the Texan where he also served as copy desk chief and associate managing editor. Dave is currently a head print editor at the Texas Undergraduate Law Journal and has also worked as a research assistant studying access to public records and their impact on public policy at UT's Media Lab. Outside the newsroom, he is a Texas 4000 For Cancer rider, where he will bike from Austin to Anchorage in support of cancer research and support services during the summer of 2024. Upon graduating, he hopes to pursue a career in environmental or sports law. He thanks the Headliners Foundation for their generous support!
FOUNDERS Scholar
Faith DuFresne is a senior journalism student at the University of Texas at Austin. She currently serves as the director of digital strategy for The Daily Texan, where she has worked for five semesters and previously served as opinion associate editor and opinion forum editor. She also currently works as the content director for the Dallas Morning News Journalism Innovation Endowment Group at UT. She will graduate in Spring 2024 and plans to work in digital media.
Joe Roddy, Jr. Broadcast Scholar
Mahlah Freeman is a junior at the University of Texas at Austin studying journalism. In her first year on campus, Freeman was hired as a podcast host for the new Moody podcast by the Drag Audio Production House. This allowed her to expand her knowledge of journalism and advance her research and interviewing skills. After graduating early in 2025, Freeman plans to pursue a law degree, which will enable her to build a platform that advocates for the safety of journalists. Freeman is a Terry Scholar and is on the Dean's List.
FOUNDERS Scholar
Abbey Ferguson is a sophomore at Baylor University studying Broadcast Journalism, Corporate Communications, and History through the Honors Program. She works as a reporter and anchor for Lariat TV News, Baylor’s student-run broadcast. Ferguson is also a member of Baylor’s Tri Delta chapter. She serves on the Public Relations committee for both Tri Delta and the Honors Residential College leadership team with the responsibilities of graphic design, videography, and photography. Ferguson plans to graduate in the spring of 2026 and pursue a career as an on-scene reporter.
FOUNDERS Scholar
Ariadna Garza is a senior at Texas Wesleyan University pursuing a degree in Mass Communications and minor in general business. Garza started her journey working as a content creator Texas Wesleyan’s media group, The Rambler. From there she moved on to work as a digital media manager for Texas Wesleyan’s Esports program. Garza was selected as a participant in NPRs Next Generation Radio and currently serves as an intern at The City of Grand Prairie's Communications and Marketing department. After graduation in December 2023, Garza hopes to continue telling stories and learning more about the different ways that can be done!
Stuart long Scholar
Neha Gopal is a senior at Texas A&M University studying journalism and minoring in neuroscience and psychology. A first-generation American, Gopal's roots stem from a tiny island on Madagascar's East coast, Mauritius. From an African country rich in culture, diversity, and storytellers, Gopal's Mauritian heritage inspires her writing today. As a senior in high school, Gopal published a coming-of-age epistolary novel after three years of writing and editing. Gopal works as a life and arts reporter and film critic at Texas A&M's historic newspaper, The Battalion. The senior also leads the distribution team for the newspaper's weekly periodicals. Since 2021, Gopal has been a student worker under the editorial department at the Texas A&M University Press. She looks forward to a fulfilling career in journalism and the publishing press. Gopal's background as a writer and journalist allows her to do what she loves most: help others tell their stories in a meaningful and powerful way.
Darrell K. Royal Scholar
Emma Hutchinson is a rising junior at the University of Texas at Austin studying journalism. Throughout her college career, Hutchinson has worked at The Daily Texan, UT’s student-run news publication, as a member of the sports department and has just been promoted from senior reporter to sports editor for the summer semester. She has covered a variety of sports during her time at the Texan, including swim and dive, tennis, softball, baseball, football, and basketball and looks to pursue a career in the sports journalism industry after graduating in the spring of 2025. Grateful for the opportunities the Headliner's Foundation has given her, Hutchinson is excited to see what the future holds and can't wait to continue her passion for writing and storytelling.
Joe Roddy, Jr. Broadcast Scholar
Melody Jones — Bio to come.
FOUNDERS SCHOLAR
Kaity Kempf is a junior at Baylor University and is pursuing a journalism major with a concentration in advertising and minor in French. She is currently a reporter/anchor for Baylor Lariat TV News, the school's news media outlet, and is interning with KWTX as a multi-media journalist. Previously, Kempf has worked with Look! Livestreams during China Spring football games as a videographer and photographer. She has also worked as social media/PR chair at various organizations on campus. Training to be a Jack-of-all trades in an industry she loves by telling underrepresented peoples' stories, making art and growing community, Kaity is excited to see what the future has in store for her.
Founders scholar
Caitlyn Meisner is a graduating senior at Baylor University pursuing a bachelor’s in political science with minors in news-editorial and international studies. She is currently a copy editor for The Baylor Lariat, the student newspaper, and interning for Education Week, a national publication writing on K-12 issues and policy in Bethesda, Maryland. Meisner previously worked for the Lariat as a staff writer where she covered Election Night 2022, local politics, and Baylor faculty. She has led coverage on the abortion pill hearings, former President Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Waco, and led investigations into a neuroscience lab and the Texas Baptists’ relationship with Baylor. Meisner also received the Reporter of the Year award from the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association in March. Upon graduation in August, Meisner hopes to work as a reporter at a daily newspaper or publication in Washington, D.C., and cover politics and campaigns.
George A. McElroy scholar
Kirk Ogunrinde is a junior studying Journalism and Computer Science at Southern Methodist University. He looks to find the intersection of data and journalism through data-journalism. Kirk was one of 12 students selected for a national scholarship with the Institute for Responsible Citizenship and will be spending the next two summers with the program in Washington, D.C. Ogunrinde currently serves as a data writer for the SMU Daily Campus, and as a freelancer for the Dallas Morning News.
JACK KEEVER SCHOLAR
Breigh Plat is a third-year student at the University of Texas at Austin majoring in Plan II Honors and African & African Diaspora Studies. They currently serve as the spring 2024 managing editor of The Daily Texan after finishing 4 semesters working in all positions of the Texan's Advocacy & Belonging Board (formerly known as the Diversity & Inclusion Board prior to Texas' Senate Bill 17) and as an associate managing editor. They are a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow with research interests in critical affect theory, Black studies, and surveillance. In their free time, they enjoy reading, cooking, and journaling. They are grateful for the Headliners Foundation's generous support!
FOUNDERS Scholar
Lucero Ponce is a junior studying journalism and Mexican American & Latino studies at the University of Texas at Austin and currently serves as the editor-in-chief of The Daily Texan, UT’s student run publication. Prior to becoming editor-in-chief, Ponce was the Texan’s en Español director in the spring of 2023. During that time, Ponce led a translation team that made breaking news more accessible to the Spanish-speaking community, producing 100 translations. Previously at The Daily Texan, Ponce worked for the opinion department as a columnist and associate editor. In the spring of 2023, Lucero worked as a reporting fellow for Community Impact, where she wrote about local nonprofits in the Southwest Austin area. After graduation in the spring of 2025, Ponce hopes to work as a reporter in investigative or community journalism.
FOUNDERS Scholar
Kelsey Roberson is a rising senior at the University of Texas at Tyler, majoring in Mass Communications with a minor in Graphic Design. Before transferring to UT Tyler, Roberson studied at Lone Star College-University Park as an active student in its honors college. She is the public relations intern for the College Autism Network, creating social media posts, newsletters, and flyers for the non-profit. Roberson aims to continue her education in an MFA program specializing in graphic design after graduating with her Bachelor's degree in the Spring of 2024
FOUNDERS Scholar
Leila Saidane is a junior at the University of Texas studying Radio-TV-Film and Journalism. Saidane has produced articles, photo essays, magazine covers and videos for professional and academic publications throughout the state, continuously featuring the diverse political and social landscape of Texans. Her bylines have been included in The Dallas Morning News, The Texas Tribune, The Austin Chronicle, The Austin–American Statesman, The Daily Texan, Community Impact and Texas Connect. Saidane was the photography fellow at The Texas Tribune in the spring of 2023, where she produced a photo essay on the activism of the first Black openly transgender woman to attend Harvard and closely covered protests, lobbyists and politicians during the 88th Texas legislative session. She has served multiple photographer, reporter, and editor positions at The Daily Texan during her time at UT. Saidane’s work and continuous leadership has been awarded and recognized by the National Press Photographers Foundation. After receiving dual degrees and a minor in Arabic, Saidane will pursue writing, photography and film documentary production in the Middle East and North Africa in service to communities of her heritage.
Verne Lundquist Scholar
George Schroeder is a senior at Baylor University majoring in journalism. Currently the executive producer for Lariat TV News, Schroeder has worked as the managing editor, a broadcast reporter and an anchor for the program. In 2022 Schroeder was named the Baylor Department of Student Media’s “Broadcaster of the Year” and the inaugural winner of the Rick Bradfield Award for Breaking News Coverage. Schroeder has received several national and state awards for his work, as well as a Founder's Scholarship from the Headliners Foundation in 2022. During his time with the Lariat, Schroeder has served as a member of the Editorial Board, a sports writer and an opinion writer. He is a contracted cadet in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps and will commission as an officer into the United States Air Force after graduation in 2024. Schroeder hopes to serve as a Public Affairs Officer but is excited to serve his country in any capacity using the skills and values he has learned as a student journalist.
Jack Keever SCHOLAR
Morgan Severson is a senior journalism and communication honors student at The University of Texas at Austin and will hold the position of managing editor at The Daily Texan for the fall 2023 semester. Severson started at the Texan in fall 2021 as an issue designer, subsequently holding positions of general reporter, city and politics senior reporter, news desk editor, general photographer, associate managing editor, and mews editor. Morgan will serve as president of UT’s chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists for the 2023-24 school year. During her time as a senior reporter, Morgan found her passion for journalism’s role as the watchdog in our democracy. She enjoys writing stories that examine the actions of those in power and how they impact the lives of everyday people. Severson has reported on the unionization of a local Starbucks, the impacts of the overturn of Roe v. Wade for college students and stories of hair-related discrimination from Black UT students. For the past two semesters, Morgan has worked as a freelance reporter for The Austin American-Statesman. In spring 2023, she held an internship at KUT and in 2024, Morgan will intern at The Houston Chronicle’s Austin Bureau. After graduation, Severson hopes to cover state or national politics.
FOUNDERS SCHOLAR
Peyton Sims is a senior journalism student at the University of Texas at Austin. After graduating high school with her Associate's Degree in 2021, she’ll graduate UT-Austin two years early this summer with high honors. Last semester, Peyton served as the Associate Photo Editor of the Daily Texan, she was an editorial photographer for both SPARK magazine and SAFFRON, and she was a podcast producer for the Drag Audio Production House. This summer, she’ll continue working at the Drag to complete her long-form podcast that will focus on the victims of the Texarkana Phantom Killer from 1946. In the past, Peyton’s work has been featured in Austin Woman Magazine, Austin Monthly, The Texarkana Gazette, and in Four States Living Magazine. After she wraps up school in July, Peyton hopes to pursue a career in magazine journalism and travel photography.
George CHRISTIAN Scholar
Molly-Jo Tilton is a senior journalism student at the University of Texas at Austin. Tilton has spent 6 semesters with The Daily Texan where she has served as both the multimedia editor and audio editor. This summer, Tilton will be a Texas Standard Intern and has previously interned with Austin Woman Magazine. She has worked on various stories, from in-depth protest coverage featuring conversations with victims of gun violence to feature writing focused on nonprofits. Upon graduation, Tilton plans to work in audio journalism.
FOUNDERS Scholar
Hope Unger is a journalism senior at the University of Texas at Austin. Unger is currently an intern reporter for the Austin American-Statesman and serves as an associate news editor for The Daily Texan, UT's student newspaper. Previously, Unger has covered stories related to UT and to Austin, such as a congressional campaign rally and the lieutenant governor's plan to eliminate tenure at public Texas universities. Unger plans to graduate in the spring of 2024 and continue writing stories that promote change.
Founders Scholar
Chyna Vargas is a senior journalism major at Texas Tech University pursuing three minors in media strategies, creative media industries, and plant-soil science. Her focus is health, science, and environmental journalism. As a freshman and sophomore, Vargas worked at The Daily Toreador, Texas Tech’s student-run newspaper, where she served as a columnist, opinion writer, and managing editor. In her junior year, she was a student assistant for health communication research for a Knight Foundation project to understand crisis communication in Spanish-speaking communities in the South Plains. For three years, Vargas has served as a Dean’s Student Ambassador at the College of Media & Communication. Vargas will spend the summer of 2023 at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center as a Journalism/Multimedia/Social Media intern. After graduation in May 2024, Vargas hopes to continue to tell important stories that inform the public of the scientific world around them.
SAM S. WOOD Scholar
Yiting "Sarah" Wang is an international student at Baylor University studying journalism and professional writing. During her junior year, Wang served as a staff writer on the news desk of the Baylor Lariat, Baylor's official student newspaper, covering beats from health to diversity. As a second-language reporter in English, Wang strived to spotlight underrepresented groups on campus while encouraging other second-language student reporters who are planning to enter the field in the future. Wang will graduate in the fall of 2023 and hopes to pursue a career in data journalism and digital media.
STUART LONG Scholar
Madelyn Weirich is a senior at Texas State University, where she pursues dual degrees in Journalism and Spanish. Weirich spent the past year studying journalism at Universidad Complutense de Madrid to improve her fluency in Spanish so she may tell the stories of a wider community. Previously, she worked as the news editor at The University Star, Texas State’s student-run news outlet. Weirich has covered breaking news, local politics, and her feature articles have been published in the Austin-American Statesman. Her passion lies in analyzing the political climate, especially in the field of women’s rights. Weirich was also the president of Texas State’s chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, where she helped connect fellow student journalists to professionals in the field.