Scholarship Winners
Angela Perez
Perez is a 24-year-old transfer student from Modesto Junior College. She had always loved to write so her mother encouraged her to try journalism. Perez took her mother’s advice and found she liked journalism and decided to stick with it. With the MediaNews Scholarship, Perez was able to pay for her tuition which made coming to Chico easier. Although Perez wants to write for a magazine, she also enjoys editing and plans to pursue that in the future.
“My favorite aspect of journalism is the truth part of it. I think people have the right to know the truth and I like digging and interviewing people to get it.”
Julia Vasquez
Vasquez is a 22-year-old transfer student from Southwestern College in San Diego. She transferred to Chico State spring 2009.
When Vazquez visited the campus she felt like she belonged here. Moving to Chico was a drastic change that concerned her family. She could have transferred to San Diego State and lived at home, but the MediaNews Group Scholarship brought her to Chico. Vazquez always loved writing and considered English as a major. She also wanted to impact people’s lives and found that journalism incorporated both of these desires.
Vazquez hopes to some day write for a weekly magazine.
"My favorite part of journalism is the effect a story can have on just one person. There is so much you can do with just words."
Powell Lee
Lee is an 18-year-old first year student who plays for Chico’s basketball team. He was recruited from Fremont High School’s Media Academy where he wrote news and opinion stories for his high school newspaper. He enjoyed writing and found he was good at it. The MediaNews Group Scholarship brought him to Chico to pursue news-editorial writing. Lee hopes to become a sports writer as a career.
“I like getting out there and interviewing people. It’s a great way to expand your mind and see what people have to say.”
Bianca Hernandez
Bianca Hernandez is a 20-year-old junior completing her first semester at Chico State. Hernandez took journalism classes in high school but was not sure what she wanted to do for a living. It was not until her journalism classes at a community college that she discovered her love for writing.
The MediaNews Group scholarship helped ease the transition to college because she is able to focus on school rather than worry about money being tight. Her main goal is to work for a magazine but she would not mind working for a newspaper s well. Hernandez is interested in using journalism as a job to travel and experience new things.
“I like being able to go to events and see things I probably wouldn't normally be able to see.” Hernandez said.
Erik Aguilar
Erik Aguilar, 28, was recruited by Dave Waddell during a conference in Southern California in 2007. Aguilar was a photojournalist at Bakersfield College and wasn’t sure where to go after finishing his general education. Waddell was right on time to help him make that decision.
Chico State turned out to be the best fit for Aguilar’s skills. During his first semester, Aguilar photographed local news-worthy events for The Orion. He strives to be the best photojournalist and wants to bring something new to The Orion’s visual department.
Aguilar works under the video editor Rudy Velazquez in the video department and enjoys learning the new skill. Aguilar plans to work at The Orion for at least two more semesters, where he hopes to enhance The Orion’s visual progress in the photo and video department.