Get to know our 2023 scholarship recipients and future journalists!

Every year we give out thousands of dollars in scholarships to San Antonio-area students with a passion for journalism.

Five new recipients have been chosen for the upcoming scholastic year.

Riley Carroll

Riley is majoring in digital communication at UTSA. She is a writer, designer and photographer and most recently served as Arts & Life editor at The Paisano. In that job she transformed her section and employed techniques she learned at the Associated Collegiate Press conference in Washington, D.C. Also, Riley has had bylined stories published in the San Antonio Express-News.

AnaBelle Elliott

AnaBelle is a journalism major at Texas State University. She has written about ways her university’s faculty is re-examining how Black history is being taught, and she has penned stories about local small businesses. Also, AnaBelle attended an SPJ conference in Austin to improve her knowledge of the Freedom of Information Act.

David Peters

Sergio is a print journalism major at Texas A&M San Antonio, where he served as editor-in-chief of The Mesquite. Under his leadership The Mesquite has won first and second place in general news from the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association, as well as honorable mentions for in-depth reporting, news photography and design. As editor-in-chief he supervised and mentored six editors.

Melanie Salazar

Melanie is majoring in journalism with a print specialty at Texas State. She creates Web content for the University’s radio station and writes stories and opinion pieces. Recently, Melanie was promoted to lead consultant at the University Writing Center, which helps students improve their prose and organization. At the center, Melanie supervises a staff of 25 undergrad and graduate consultants.

PAST WINNERS

2021 scholarship recipients 

Lily Celeste Reimherr Buckert

Lily is a junior communication major at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. A proud San Antonio native, she is passionate about helping advance her city and community. In addition to her job as the newsroom assistant for three Jaguar Student media outlets, Lily is the community reporter for student-led broadcast team Enlace News. Her work focuses on underrepresented voices in San Antonio. Her hobbies include performing and writing music, reading, and spending time with her family and her chihuahua, Rosa. 

Zoe Del Rosario

Zoe, a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, is a senior at the University of the Incarnate Word where she has served as program director for the university’s student-run television station, UIWtv. She oversees sports content for the station’s bi-weekly newscasts and in spring produced a show featuring UIW’s athletic teams called “The Cardinal Huddle.” She also produces a weekly radio sports talk show, “Overtime Sports.” This summer Del Rosario will spend eight weeks in The Fund for American Studies internship program in Washington, D.C., a program that includes courses for credit at George Mason University and opportunities for networking and professional development.

Sergio Medina

Sergio is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in journalism at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. He transferred from San Antonio College, where he was the last editor for The Ranger student publication. The Ranger lasted for an uninterrupted 95 years before a shift in faculty, budget and enrollment threatened student media at SAC. Medina’s coverage helped bring attention from local media and the community, which added pressure to SAC’s administration to keep student media alive in the future. Medina is on staff at The Mesquite, the student publication at A&M-San Antonio and will serve as editor in chief in Fall 2022.

Victoria Simmons

Victoria is a communications junior and sociology minor at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. She transferred from Northwest Vista College to TAMUSA in Fall 2021. She is a staff writer at The Mesquite, TAMUSA’s online news site. Her favorite writing subjects include lifestyle, food and the arts. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to music and going to shows and local art museums. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career  in the arts as a creative director, radio show host or photojournalist.

2021 scholarship recipients 

Tamia Cobb

Timia Cobb is a first generation college student and senior at Texas State University. She is majoring in journalism with a concentration in media production and minors in business administration and media studies. She is the news editor at the University Star, the university’s student-run newspaper. She also has worked at the university’s radio station, KTSW 89.9, as assistant web content manager. After graduation, she hopes to work for a news station or attend graduate school abroad.

Zoe Del Rosario

Zoe Del Rosario moved to San Antonio six years ago from San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is a communication arts major with a multimedia journalism track at The University of the Incarnate Word. In mid-2020 she was named program director for the student-run news station, UIWtv, where she oversees content. She also covers sports across all of the university’s athletic programs. That experience deepened her passion for sports journalism and her desire to become a sports analyst.

Justin Kraiza

Justin Kraiza is a native of San Antonio and a communication arts major with a journalism concentration at The University of the Incarnate Word. He has served as assistant editor and staff writer for Logos, the student-run newspaper. He also contributes to Maestro Connect, a nonprofit magazine addressing entrepreneurship and businesses in San Antonio. He recently joined LOCAL Community News as a reporter and editorial assistant.

Ryder Martin

Ryder Martin is a communications major at the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he is sports editor of The Paisano, the independent student newspaper. He writes sports commentaries, profiles of student athletes and works on the newspaper’s sports podcast. He grew up in a military family and credits his experiences living abroad for developing an appreciation for the global future of sports. After graduation, he hopes to continue telling the stories of athletes through print and broadcast journalism.

Clarissa Martinez

Clarissa Martinez is a communications major at Texas A&M San Antonio. A senior, she is editor-in-chief of The Mesquite, the online student publication, where last spring she covered three beats in addition to her editing duties. She believes it’s important to tell stories that readers wouldn’t normally see or gain knowledge of. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in journalism and later move into writing and producing for film and television.

Abigail Velez

Abigail Velez is a native of El Paso and a senior at The University of the Incarnate Word majoring in
communication arts and minoring in political science. She is a multimedia journalist for UIWtv, the student-run news station, and for Logos, the student-run newspaper. She also has been lead anchor for All in El Paso News, a digital-media news service. At present, she a writer for the Westside Sol and Southside Sol newspapers, and an on-air announcer for the talk show OverTime Sports Radio.

Brian Yancelson

Brian Yancelson was born in Mexico City but has spent most of his life in San Antonio. A communication major at Trinity University, in fall 2021 he begins his third year as sports editor of the Trinitonian, the student newspaper. He also has worked as a reporter and broadcaster for Tiger Network, the university’s live broadcast network, most recently calling play-by-play. Before coming to Trinity, he was a Kid Reporter for Sports Illustrated Kids. He hopes to pursue careers in journalism and the sports industry.

2020 scholarship recipients 

Ally Bolender, Texas State University

Ally Bolender is journalism major with a writing minor at Texas State University, working as the assistant web content manager at the student radio station, KTSW FM-89.9. Ally has written editorials and stories about life on campus, currently working with the KTSW news department to cover COVID-19 for Hays County. Ally’s work also has been published in Texas State University’s student newspaper, The University Star. She’s maintained a competitive grade point average and has been recognized on both the Dean’s List and has been inducted to the College of Fine Arts and Communication’s Council of Scholars, an organization that recognizes students for three consecutive semesters on the Dean’s List. Ally attributes her academic success to her genuine love of reporting and storytelling. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in December, she hopes to join a team of investigative reporters.

Brigid Cooley, Texas A&M University – San Antonio

Brigid Cooley is a native San Antonian and senior Communications major at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. She is currently editor-in-chief at The Mesquite, her university’s student-run online news site. Brigid received her associate of arts from Northwest Vista Community College in December of 2018 and will graduate with her bachelor’s in December 2020. After graduation, she intends to pursue graduate school, furthering her study of journalism and the importance of a free press. In her free time, Brigid can be found performing original poetry and acting on stages around San Antonio.

Brittany Pichler, Texas A&M University – San Antonio

Brittany Pichler is a senior Communications major with a minor in sociology at Texas A&M University-San Antonio, where she was promoted from assistant editor to managing editor of the student-run online news site, The Mesquite. Since her time with The Mesquite, she has written nearly 20 stories over the spring semester, nearly exceeding her goal. Her stories include everything from campus development, entertainment reviews and those adapting to their new circumstances during the coronavirus pandemic. Her drive behind her work is to give a voice to those who may not have one and to share the stories of others. As a writer at heart, Brittany always hoped to become an author and screenwriter. After being on The Mesquite, she found a great passion for journalism that surpassed everything else. After graduation in May 2020, she plans to continue her education at Texas State University in mass communication and journalism.

Brian Yancelson, Trinity University

Brian Yancelson was born in Mexico City before moving to San Antonio, where he has spent most of his life. During his first year at Trinity University, Brian became the Sports Editor of the student newspaper, the Trinitonian, a role he is set to continue. He is also working as a reporter for Tiger Network, the university’s live broadcast network. Before coming to Trinity, Brian was a Sports Illustrated Kids magazine “kid reporter” starting in eighth grade through his sophomore year of high school. That position gave him the opportunity to attend professional sporting events as a member of the press and interview coaches and athletes, sparking his interest in sports journalism. He is getting a major in Communication with double minors in Sport Management and Political Science, and he hopes to continue pursuing careers in journalism and the sport industry.

2019 scholarship winners

Nicole Bautista

Texas State University

Electronic Media

Bautista, a first generation college student in her senior year, said her college experience has been quite the journey. She began taking online courses at San Antonio College in the fall of 2013 — three months after her daughter was born — and she is now expected to graduate in May 2020. While it has taken her seven years to earn her bachelor’s degree, she says it’s been a precious experience balancing motherhood with her passion for videography, photography and reporting. Bautista earned an associate’s in journalism from SAC. While there, she spent two semesters creating visual content as the multimedia editor for the student newspaper, The Ranger. Bautista also worked for the San Antonio Express-News for over a year as a weekend crime beat reporter. She is very proud of how far she has come as a mother and a woman working in the production, multimedia and journalism fields. She is eager to graduate so she can continue to excel and cultivate quality work in her career.

Kara Killinger

Trinity University

English

Kara has been the features editor of Trinity’s student newspaper, the Trinitonian, for two semesters, and also reported for the University of Edinburgh’s student newspaper while studying abroad in Scotland. After a summer internship at the local Rivard Report, she will continue next semester as the Trinitonian’s features editor. Kara has enjoyed every moment of working as a student journalist. She hopes to continue to pursue community journalism after graduation.

Bethany Melendez

University of the Incarnate Word

Communication Arts

Bethany spends her time on campus as a reporter and photographer for the university newspaper Logos. Bethany is very passionate about journalism and started taking photos of nature six years ago in high school. Bethany loves to spend her time writing and meeting new people. She hopes to one day work for a magazine like National Geographic.

Renee Muniz

University of the Incarnate Word

Communication Arts and English

Renne is a Corpus Christi-native who will be graduating December 2019. She enrolled in UIW to learn how to become a journalist, and along the way she branched out to a unique form of journalism – storytelling. She loves writing about ordinary people doing extraordinary things. “Throughout college – and, truthfully throughout my life without my knowledge – I have encountered those difference-making people,” she said. While working at the Logos as a work-study and assistant editor; as a media intern for campus ministry; as a volunteer and staff member for Boy With a Ball San Antonio; and “just as a human living in this roller coaster culture,” she said she’s met people who are set apart from the crowd. “I aspire to be the smooth mediator between these local extraordinaries and the world at large.” she said. An example of this is her storytelling in Boy With a Ball in San Antonio, a global, youth-development organization that equips youth and their families to reach their dreams. 

Christine Romero

Texas A&M University- San Antonio

Communications

Christine was born and raised in a small town near Chicago, Illinois and moved to San Antonio, Texas when she was 16 years old. She is a proud Mexican-American, first-generation college student and is fluent in English and Spanish. She plans to pursue a career in television production. A journalism class in high school sparked her interest in reporting.  After starting college, she soon found her passion for broadcasting and received her associate degree in Radio-Television-Broadcasting from San Antonio College in 2017. Her reporting, photo and video experience in college media like The Ranger, The Mesquite and Enlace helped her know what is newsworthy and how to deliver news to the campus community.  She is now working as a communication assistant for Jaguar Student Media at A&M-San Antonio.  Christine is the new vice president of Jaguar Multimedia Production Association, the new student organization that works on multimedia projects and collaborates with the university’s Univision Media Lab to produce the student-run newscast “Enlace”. She is also a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, Mexican-American Student Association and the Photography Club. In her spare time, she enjoys taking photographs, reading novels and listening to music.

Congratulations to the 2018 scholarship winners!

Zephanie Battle

Texas State University

Journalism and Mass Communication

Zephanie Battle is a Journalism and Mass Communication senior at Texas State University, with a minor in Art with a focus on photography. She graduated high school with an associates degree and hopes to continue her education with graduate school in the near future. She has written online articles for Study Breaks magazine and submitted works for her university’s newspaper, The University Star. Battle’s dream job would be to become a photojournalist for Rolling Stone, Time Magazine or National Geographic. Battle loves getting to know others, animals, music and movies.

Katrina Clements

University of Texas at San Antonio

English

Katrina Clements is a junior at The University of Texas at San Antonio studying English with a minor in communications. Through spending her sophomore year as the assistant Arts & Life editor at UTSA’s independent student newspaper, The Paisano, she found a passion for arts journalism. She has been named to be the Arts & Life editor for the coming fall semester. Primarily writing articles featuring artists and their upcoming collections to be shown in San Antonio, she has thrived through connecting with other creators in the community. She hopes that with writing about culture and the arts, she brings inspiration and a sense of joy to print media. 

Kyle Cotton

University of Texas at Arlington

Journalism

Born and raised in San Antonio, Cotton grew up rushing to read the San Antonio Express-News sports section every day, dreaming to be a sports reporter one day. Once he arrived at the journalism program at San Antonio College, he fell in love with news as his stories helped inform his community. Cotton says he owes all his success to his parents and the amazing advisors at San Antonio College and UT-Arlington. Without them, he would not be the person he is today.

Jessica Christine Del Valle

Texas State University

Multimedia Production

Jessica Christine Del Valle obtained her associate degree in journalism from San Antonio College and will study Multimedia production at Texas State University this fall. Del Valle spent the last two years studying the many elements of journalism from photography, to video journalism, to reporting and looks forward to continued education in the field. Growing up Del Valle always had a love for sports which drew her interest in sports reporting when she entered the journalism program. During her time at SAC, Del Valle was the Sports Editor for The Ranger, a student-run newspaper. Her hard work has allowed her to develop a strong portfolio and skills that have earned her awards and recognition. Del Valle says she owes all her success to her parents and the great advisors at SAC. She is currently interning at Sports2nite and is a part-time staff writer for San Antonio Express-News.

Soleil Gaffner

Trinity University

Communications

Soleil Gaffner is a rising senior at Trinity University, studying Communication and Spanish with a minor in International Studies. She has worked on Trinity’s independent, student-run newspaper, the Trinitonian, since her freshman year. During her tenure, she’s held the several positions, including columnist, copy editor, and section editor, and has enjoyed every minute of it. In the fall, she will continue striving for independent and passion-driven journalism as the Opinion section editor for the Trinitonian.

Stephanie Garza

Our Lady of the Lake University

Communications

Stephanie Garza is a mass communications senior at Our Lady of the Lake University. As a public relations major and political science minor, Garza has benefited from versatile courses that have provided her with unique experiences and incredible opportunities.

Garza’s passion for journalism and writing began at a young age but flourished during her first semester at OLLU. While at OLLU, Garza has acquired experience in writing, editing, publishing, and studio and field production. Garza is a reporter for The Lake Front, OLLU’s student-run newspaper, and for The Lake Front Newscast. As a McNair Scholar, Garza hopes to advance the research in the fields of mass communications and political science.

Mariah Gonzalez,

Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Jesus E. Jimenez

Communications

Texas A&M University at San Antonio

Renee Jesus Jimenez is a communications senior with  minor in English at TExas A&M University-San Antonio. Raised in a small twon of Fabens, he moved here in 2015 as a transfer student to Northwest Vista College. Jesus began reporting htis past semester, where he wrote about two opposite issues currently in Bexar County. He profiled Sheriff Javier Salazar and County Commissioner Precinct #3 Kevin Wolff; and Executive Directors Sandra Whitley and Howard Rogers from Thrive Youth Center and Alamo Area Resource Center, respectively, on the issue of LGBT homeless youth. In the fall, Jesus will be an intern at Univision where he will shadow reporters, videographers and produciton while on assignments. In spring 2019, he will begin his master’s program in mass communication at Texas State University.

Renee Muñiz

University of the Incarnate Word

Communication Arts and English

Renee Muñiz is a junior at the University of the Incarnate Word double majoring in communication arts with a concentration in journalism and English. She takes delight in creativity, especially writing. She hopes to use her writing to showcase the lesser-known members of her community who are striving to make a difference. She is also an active member of her campus ministry at UIW as part of the media ministry.  

Victoria O’Connor

University of the Incarnate Word

Guadalupe Perez

Texas State University

Journalism

Guadalupe Perez, who goes by Wally, is going into his senior year at Texas State University pursuing a bachelor’s in journalism. He’s already earned an associate’s in journalism from San Antonio College, where he worked for The Ranger for two years as editor-in-chief, features editor and other positions. He’s also written for The Tacoist and Folo Media, which gave him an opportunity to work alongside veteran reporters/editors who had worked at MSNBC, the Washington Post, CNN and The Wall Street Journal. He recently took an interest in broadcast journalism, specifically radio, and plans to work for Texas State’s radio station KTSW 89.9 this coming school year.

Ashley Skinner

Texas State University

Journalism

Ashley Skinner is a senior at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, majoring in journalism and minoring in psychology. She was recently inducted to the Council of Scholars, a prestigious honor society for students who have been on the Dean’s List for three consecutive semesters. Only 5% of the College of Fine Arts and Communication students earn this privilege. Ashley was a reporter for the school’s newspaper, The University Star, and eventually took on the News Editor position. In January of 2018, she went to Guyana as a member of the Global News Team to report on Texas State’s Respiratory Care team giving aide to the developing country. In high school, Ashley interned for her hometown’s local newspaper, The Bandera Bulletin, was the State Champion of the University of the Interscholastic League News Writing competition, Editor of the Bulldog Times, Co-Editor of the Bulldog Nation News broadcast and head yearbook photographer. She will graduate in May 2019, a year earlier than expected, and wants to be a news reporter or editor for a widely known newspaper.

♦♦♦♦♦

The 2017 scholarship winners!

Jose Arredondo

Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Journalism

Jose Arredondo is a communications senior at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. He has written and photographed at The Bugle Call, The Big Stick, The Ranger and La Prensa newspapers. Recently, Arredondo interned at Spectrum News where he covered the San Antonio Spurs and performed on camera. In seven years, Arredondo has interviewed Emmitt Smith, Gregg Popovich, Tony Parker, Diamond Dallas Paige and several over high profile figures.

Adam Christopher Barraza

University of the Incarnate Word

Communication Production

At the age of eight, Adam Christopher Barraza grew fond of video cameras during summer vacation while celebrating his birthday at Disneyland. As he grew older, his love for cameras also grew. He went on to do school news at Coronado High School, which helped land him an internship in El Paso. A year later, Barraza moved to San Antonio and went on to earn his A.A.S. in radio, television and film at San Antonio College. He is now working towards his bachelor’s in communications with a concentration in production, all while working for Fox 29 and NBC’s News 4 in San Antonio.

Marco P. Cadena

University of the Incarnate Word

Graduate Student, Bilingual Communications

Marco P. Cadena is a communication arts student concentrating in bilingual communications at University of the Incarnate Word. Cadena is expected to graduate with a Master of Arts degree in May 2018. Throughout his college years, Cadena acquired experience in writing, editing, publishing in English and Spanish, broadcasting, photography, design, and layout by being an active member of UIW’s radio station, student-run newspaper, and television station. He occupied positions such as KUIW’s radio DJ, opinions editor for The Logos, and communications director for UIWtv. Apart from writing and broadcast journalism, Cadena enjoys music, traveling, and horror films.

Kyle Cotton

University of Texas at Arlington

Journalism

Born and raised in San Antonio, Cotton grew up rushing to read the San Antonio Express-News sports section every day, dreaming to be a sports reporter one day. Once he arrived at the journalism program at San Antonio College, he fell in love with news as his stories helped inform the Alamo Colleges’ community. Cotton says he owes all his success to his parents and the amazing advisors at San Antonio College. Without them, he would not be the person he is today.

James Dusek

San Antonio College

Journalism

James Dusek is a journalism sophomore at San Antonio College, where he is the features editor at The Ranger. He is passionate about sharing people’s stories and thoughts. Home-schooled for most of his life, James developed a voracious appetite for reading stories at a young age and later fell in love with writing. He believes stories, more now than ever, are vitally important to understanding and empathizing with one another.

Cynthia Herrera

Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Journalism

Cynthia Herrera is a communications senior with a minor in sociology at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. She is a first generation college student and graduated from San Antonio College where she obtained two associate degrees, one in journalism and the other in photography. While at SAC, she was the assistant managing editor and editor for The Ranger. She also works as a multimedia journalist at NOWCastSA and interns for The Tacoist. She recently became multimedia editor for The Mesquite.

Bethany Melendez

University of the Incarnate Word

Communication Arts

My name is Bethany Melendez and I have just finished my first year of college at the University of the Incarnate Word. I am studying communication arts and minoring in photography and English. I am also the photo editor of the university’s newspaper The Logos. I am very honored to receive this scholarship! Thank you!

Renee Muniz

University of the Incarnate Word

Journalism

Renee Muniz is a sophomore majoring in communication arts with a concentration in journalism at the University of the Incarnate Word. Muniz developed a love for journalism in elementary school, watching “Good Morning America” every day before school. She wanted to know: How did the reporters feel? What would their tone be towards each new story? Today, along with writing for The Logos, student-run newspaper, she enjoys spending time with her second family in campus ministry.

Victoria O’Connor

University of the Incarnate Word

Journalism

A reporter for the student newspaper The Logos, O’Connor was recently promoted to features editor, overseeing features from student reporters, laying out sections of the newspaper and writing a monthly column. She has also participated as a volunteer anchor for the campus news station, UIWtv, and is a member of the multicultural sorority, Delta Xi Nu.

Guadalupe “Wally” Perez

San Antonio College

Journalism

Guadalupe “Wally” Perez is currently an intern for The Tacoist and will attend Texas State University this fall (2017) to obtain a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He started his journalism career at San Antonio College in 2015 with The Ranger newspaper and concluded his final semester there as a reporter and illustrator for the paper. Perez held the positions of features editor, calendar editor, photographer, and editor in chief. He is a native of the Rio Grande Valley and enjoys watching movies and listening to music in his free time.

Mara Gabriela Rodriguez

Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Communications

Mara Gabriela Rodriguez is a communications senior with a minor in business at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. As president of the SPJ student chapter she feels very proud of obtaining an SPJ scholarship for the second year in a row. She has written for The Ranger, San Antonio College newspaper, The Mesquite and has passion for journalism and writing.

Amisarahi Sarabia

Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Journalism

Amisarahi Sarabia is a communications major at Texas A&M-San Antonio. She uses her creativity and visual skills as the visual editor for The Mesquite, the online campus news publication. SPJ recently recognized The Mesquite staff for the best digital online student publication, earning Ami her second SPJ recognition. Ami previously reported for The Pulse at Palo Alto College and worked as a photographer at San Antonio’s Tower of the Americas. In 2013, Ami started her own website “The Girl Is Poison” (http://thegirlispoison.com) dedicated to beauty, lifestyle and entertainment. Ami’s passions include photography, reading, blogging and listening to The Beatles.

Julie Weis

Trinity University

Communication

Julia is a rising junior at Trinity University. She is studying communication and chinese, with a minor in business. She has worked for the school’s newspaper, the Trinitonian, for two years as a copy editor and feature reporter. In the fall, Julia will be the Trinitonian’s sports editor.