APPLY NOW
PURPOSE
To encourage students to pursue journalism as a career.
To induce competitors to research, learn and give an opinion on a topical news item and to take a stand on this particular issue.
ELIGIBILITY
Applicants must be committed to AAJA’s mission.
Applicants must be a graduating high school senior that has been accepted to a U.S. college (proof of acceptance required) or a currently enrolled college student.
AAJA membership is not required for the application but if selected, the student must sign up for student membership.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Candidates will be judged on the basis of academic achievement, demonstrated journalistic ability, commitment to the field of journalism and/or sensitivity to Asian American and Pacific Islander Issues.
BENEFITS
$5,000 will go towards the student’s college education.
The selected student will receive travel, lodging and registration to attend AAJA’s national annual convention in August 2016 in Las Vegas.
Depending on the winner’s area of study, the student will also be paired with a professional print, online or broadcast mentor at the convention to help them network.
Please be sure to gather all the required materials before beginning the application. You will be required to submit the following:
One copy of an official high school or college transcript
Two letters of recommendation from a professional who is familiar with your academic and/or journalism work (a counselor, professor, etc.).
Work samples (in PDF, JPG or link formats).
You will also have to answer ONE of three essay questions.
Questions? Email Justin Seiter at justins@aaja.org
Deadline to apply: Sunday, May 1 at 11:59 PM PST.
ABOUT THE COUNCIL FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION (CIC):
The council is a non-profit private organization, whose goal is to promote better understanding between the United States, China and Taiwan. The CIC supports educational exchange programs in the arts, humanities and sciences. The CIC provides support to educational foundations and scholarships, awards of excellence, conferences and seminars and scholarly and professional collaborations.
ABOUT ANNA CHENNAULT:
Anna Chennault is a writer, lecturer, international business executive, and Chairman of the Council for International Cooperation (CIC). A graduate of Lingnan University, Mrs. Chennault holds six honorary Doctorate degrees in the fields of Law, Humanities, and Business Administration. With her journalism background, she lectures at schools and universities on international affairs. As an author, she has over fifty books published in English and Chinese. Several of her books, such as A Thousand Springs and The Education of Anna were on the New York Time’s best seller’s list.
Her late husband was Lieutenant General Claire L. Chennault, commander of the American Volunteer Group “Flying Tigers”, the China Air Task Force, and the U.S. 14th Air Force in China in World War II. Anna Chennault has been actively involved in American national affairs and international commerce for over 45 years.
Personal friends with many Presidents of the United States, she had been appointed and had served as a member of numerous governmental and citizen committees addressing U.S. domestic and international issues. In public service, she had served as Vice Chairman of the President’s Export Council; White House Commissioner of Presidential Scholars; Founder and Chairman of the National Republican Heritage Groups Council; and as International Chairman of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Commission.
Mrs. Chennault served on the Advisory Boards of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, People-to-People International, and US-ROC Business Council. She was also active in a number of organizations affiliated with the military. She is the Founder and past-Chairman of the Advisory Board of the National Military Families Association. As a life-time member of the 14th Air Force Association and the current Flying Tigers Descendants Association, Mrs. Chennault was a board member and past Chairman of its Awards Committee. In China, Mrs. Chennault has been appointed as honorary senior adviser to numerous civic organizations, governmental departments and agencies, universities and educational institutions.
Anna Chennault is the Founder and Chairman of CIC, a non-profit, non-political organization, whose goal is to promote better understanding between the United States, China, and Taiwan. CIC supports educational exchange programs in the arts, humanities, and sciences. Annually, CIC provide scholarships worldwide, which includes education foundations in China, Chinese language scholarship awards in the United States, and awards of excellence for the faculty at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
ABOUT THE PREVIOUS SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
BrieAnna Frank, the 2015 awardee, is currently attending Arizona State University where she intends on graduating in the spring of 2019. She works for the campus radio station, Blaze Radio and was seen interning for KJZZ 91.5 over the summer. Frank values her education highly and has been the recipient of multiple scholarships and awards. In building off her summer internship, she would like to obtain more internship positions throughout her time at school to further enhance her knowledge and skills. After graduating, Frank hopes to take off as a Peace Corps volunteer before finally securing a job at the NPR headquarters in Washington DC. Without the CIC/Anna Chenault Scholarship, Frank says that none of her experiences would have been possible without it. With the award, she is now considering giving journalism a shot abroad as her school just opened a journalism-based study abroad program in the Middle East.
Annie Yu, 2014 recipient, is a recent graduate of Azusa Pacific University in Southern California. She is currently a Pulliam Fellowship recipient and Chandler City Hall Reporter at The Arizona Republic. Prior to graduating, Yu was the editor-in-chief of her university’s campus newspaper, The Clause. In addition to the CIC/Anna Chennault Scholarship, Yu received the 2014 Outstanding Senior Award from the Azusa Pacific journalism department faculty and a 2014 Los Angeles Press Club award for second-best student news writing for a transgender theology story. Yu was able to attend the 2014 AAJA National Convention in Washington, DC at no cost where she interviewed for a job, attended workshops, connected with a professional mentor and networked with other AAJA members based in Phoenix. Yu says, “I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to attend the conference … I met so many great people through AAJA that I’m sure I will stay connected over the years as I grow into my career.”
Jenn Crane, 2013 recipient, is a junior at UCLA. She currently works as a news reporter for UCLA’s student publication 
The Daily Bruin, and is also a community editor and co-host for Daily Bruin Radio’s “Long Story Short.” In addition to the CIC/Anna Chennault Scholarship, Crane received the PG&E Bright Minds Scholarship, The Rodgers Ranch Scholarship and the College Options Scholarship. The CIC/Anna Chennault Scholarship helped provide Crane with the means she needed to continue pursuing journalism professionally, she says. “By receiving funds to help pay for my tuition and living arrangements, I have more time to focus on being a news reporter, editor, and radio co-host.” As part of the award, Crane also attended AAJA’s 2013 National Convention in New York, an experience she says was a dream turned into reality. “I received the honor to network and learn from some of the most prestigious and experienced journalists in the country,” Crane says. “The connections have carried long after the convention and have given me the tools to keep on networking.”
Faique Moqeet, 2012 recipient, is in his third year at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. Moqueet was awarded several scholarships in addition to the CIC/Anna Chennault Award, including the Ronald McDonald House Charities Scholarship, Coca Cola National Scholarship, Al Neuharth Free Spirit Journalism Scholarship and Elks National Foundation MVS Scholarship. He is currently pursuing economics and journalism and hopes to go into consulting or start his own business after graduating in 2016.
Cathy Li, 2011 recipient, is now a senior at Columbia University in New York and has planned on majoring in economics. Li has worked as the dining and online editor for Inside New York, a publication with 75,000 readers and a large online following, and has also directed marketing for the Columbia Multicultural Business Association. She hopes to go on to graduate school and study urban planning.
PRIVACY POLICY
Application information will only be used internally by AAJA to promote student opportunities and for program evaluation and planning. In the application form, please indicate whether you would like to be notified of further student opportunities from AAJA, including scholarships, grants and additional journalism training.
AAJA does not share applicant information with third parties.