LIN Media expanded its minority scholarship and training program this year, so the TV company has now announced not one, but two recipients. Monica Ayala-Talavera (left) is recipient of the new 2011 Minority Digital Scholarship and Training Program and Natalie Hee is recipient of the 2011 Minority Broadcast Scholarship and Training Program.
LIN has been awarding two-year scholarships to ambitious students interested in a wide spectrum of fields in or relating to broadcast television since 1998. The second scholarship was added in January for multicultural students pursuing a career in digital media.
Hee is a junior at the University of Texas (UT) majoring in Broadcast Journalism. She is currently the Marketing Director for UT’s Texas State Television, in charge of organizing fundraisers, securing grants, balancing the station’s budget, and developing new and innovative ideas to advertise Texas State Television to the UT community. She recently completed an internship at KXAN-TV in Austin, a LIN Media television station, where she demonstrated strong initiative, work ethic, and a passion for journalism. As part of the Minority Broadcast Scholarship and Training Program, Hee will earn hands-on broadcast training through a paid summer 2011 internship program at WISH-TV in Indianapolis.
Ayala-Talavera is a junior at the University of Missouri majoring in Convergence Journalism. She is currently a City and State Writer for The Maneater, the official student newspaper of the University of Missouri. In the summer prior to her freshman year in college, she participated in a six-week program with the Detroit Free Press where she covered local political, sports and breaking news stories, several of which were chosen to be published online. Ayala-Talavera will gain valuable experience in digital media through a paid summer 2011 internship at WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids.
In addition to the internships, both students will each receive a two-year scholarship for up to $10,000 per year, which can be used toward tuition, fees, books, and room and board.
“As the media industry continues to evolve, we want to provide an opportunity for talented and ambitious students to pursue their goals in both broadcast and digital media. This year’s recipients are very deserving of this opportunity and we look forward to their continued success,” said LIN CEO Vincent Sadusky.
