McMillion named one of Top Ten Student Journalists
A West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism student has been named one of the Scripps Howard Foundation’s Top Ten Student Journalists for 2008 and will receive a $10,000 scholarship.
Elaine McMillion, a news-editorial senior from Charleston, was chosen from hundreds of students nationwide for the award.
“I’m honored to be chosen as one of the top 10 journalists in the country,” said McMillion, who was nominated by the School of Journalism. “It’s amazing that they would choose me. It just goes to show that you can accomplish your goals and dreams with hard work and determination if you just put your mind to it.”
A panel of newspaper, broadcast and television network professionals selected the scholarship winners based on their academic achievement, portfolio of work, demonstrated interest in journalism and an essay about their long-term career goals.
Judges praised students for their journalistic expertise and ability to work with excellence in a variety of multimedia platforms.
“As the media industry reinvents itself, it is encouraging to see communications students like our winners in the pipeline,” said Mike Philipps, foundation president and chief executive officer. “It is with great pleasure that we reward them for their accomplishments and encourage them to be the next generation of leaders.”
McMillion is the second WVU student to receive this honor since the scholarship’s beginning in 1999.
She has worked as a staff writer/Capitol city reporter for the Charleston Daily Mail; a contributing writer/intern for Lawyer’s and Leisure Magazine; a staff writer for The Daily Athenaeum; a news staff member of WVU’s campus radio station, U92; and a freelance reporter for The Dominion Post.
McMillion is the co-founder and vice president of the student organization, All Things Magazine: Ed on Campus. She also helped found the School of Journalism’s new class/project this fall, which will provide multimedia training sessions at five weekly state newspapers (see related story at http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/news/page/7140/).
In addition, she spent last spring at Aalborg University in Denmark as part of WVU’s study abroad program.
Dedicated to excellence in journalism, the Scripps Howard Foundation (http://www.scripps.com/foundation) is a leader in industry efforts in journalism education, scholarships, internships, literacy, minority recruitment/development and First Amendment causes. It is the philanthropic arm of The E.W. Scripps Co., a 130-year-old media enterprise with interests in broadcast television stations, newspaper publishing, and licensing and syndication.