Mississippi students receive National Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation journalism scholarships

NNPAF scholarship recipient JSU junior Jeremy Anderson, The Mississippi Link publisher Jackie Hampton and Dr. Elayne J. Hayes-Anthony, director, JSU Mass Communications PHOTO BY AYESHA K. MUSTAFAA

By Ayesha K. Mustafaa

Editor

NNPAF scholarship recipient JSU junior Jeremy Anderson, The Mississippi Link publisher Jackie Hampton and Dr. Elayne J. Hayes-Anthony, director, JSU Mass Communications PHOTO BY AYESHA K. MUSTAFAA
NNPAF scholarship recipient JSU junior Jeremy Anderson, The Mississippi Link publisher Jackie Hampton and Dr. Elayne J. Hayes-Anthony, director, JSU Mass Communications PHOTO BY AYESHA K. MUSTAFAA
Jackie Hampton with NNPAF scholarship recipient Tougaloo College senior Diamond Williams
Jackie Hampton with NNPAF scholarship recipient Tougaloo College senior Diamond Williams

The National Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation (NNPAF) has awarded 21 cash scholarships of $1,000 each to student scholars for the 2015-2016 school year. The recipients attend Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), four of them from Mississippi.

Jackie Hampton, publisher of The Mississippi Link, and chair of the organization’s scholarship program, presented scholarships locally to Jeremy Anderson and Diamond Williams.

Anderson is a junior at Jackson State University, majoring in Mass Communication with an emphasis in Multi-Media Journalism. Williams is a senior at Tougaloo College, majoring in Mass Communication with an emphasis in Journalism.

Also receiving scholarships were Renita S. Lacy of Alcorn State University, a Mass Communications major, and Carrissa Clark of Mississippi Valley State University, majoring in Mass Communication with an emphasis in Broadcast Journalism.

Asked to explain why they felt they deserved the scholarships, each student answered:

Diamond Williams said, “… Throughout my matriculation, I have served as an example of pure hard work through trials and tribulations. Journalism is not just writing for the news…; it is a window to deliver information to the masses with your words and gathered information.

“Each journalist holds a responsibility to educate, respect and acknowledge the minds of the people by pouring [out] truthful information, … the bridge between the world and those in their living room, holding a cell phone, reading the nearest newspaper or magazine. The responsibility is inspiring…, mind blowing.”

Jeremy Anderson said, “I have ventured into every opportunity to improve my media skills … offered at Jackson State University. I wasted no time in signing up and becoming very active to volunteer at the Blue & White Flash, our school newspaper.

“I became the co-host of a sports show, “Overtime” that aired on JSUTV. I volunteered at 88.5 WJSU FM as a morning anchor and worked for Good as Gold production company. The highlight of my career so far was when I along with a classmate interviewed U.S. District Judge Carlton W. Reeves.”

Renita Lacy said, “My high attendance, academic achievement, determination, financial need and my desire to achieve more are all reasons why I believe I deserve this scholarship.

“I am a hardworking and dedicated student. And for the past two semesters, I have maintained an ‘all A’ average, while facing stress and hardships as a full time college student.”

Carrissa Clark said, “The reason I decided to be part of the Mass Communication Department is because I disapprove of the way the media reported on Detroit. I’ve always thought it was bias against black people…. Detroit media rarely report about the good that people do in the community. It is always about who murdered whom or how Detroit has become worse over the years. I am a very hard working student, dedicated to what I aspire to do.”

The NNPAF scholarship sponsors for this year were Ford and General Motors.

Visit the NNPA website at www.nnpa.org