Local SDX awards $20,000 to journalism students

 Published Date: April 29, 2011

The Sigma Delta Chi Foundation of Washington, D.C. (SDX-DC), gave more than $20,000 worth of scholarships to five aspiring journalists this spring.

SDX-DC is a nonprofit education arm of and receives financial support from the D.C. Pro chapter.

Each recipient will receive a $4,000 scholarship starting this fall to help offset tuition and other costs. One, a University of Maryland College Park student, will get an extra $1,000 through the Ira R. Allen Award.

The five recipients, who will be recognized at the D.C. Pro Hall of Fame banquet on June 14, were selected from eight finalists. There were 18 applicants this year, significantly higher than in the past three years.

“We had a large and competitive field,” said veteran journalist Evelyn Hsu, the scholarship committee chair. “The winners have impressive academic and journalistic achievements. We expect great things from them.”

The 2011 SDX-DC scholarship recipients are:

  • Matt Rist, who will be a rising senior at The George Washington University and whose major is journalism and minor is theater.
  • Stacy-Ann Ellis, who will be a rising senior at Howard University and whose major is journalism and minor is photography
  • Alicia McCarty, who will be a rising junior at the University of Maryland and whose major is journalism and minor is European history
  • Stefanie Dazio, who will be a rising senior at American University and whose major is print journalism
  • Sarah Parnass, who will be a rising senior at American University and whose major is broadcast journalism and French.

“From my discussions with Evelyn and the other scholarship committee members, I know this was a tough call, as all eight finalists were outstanding,” said foundation SDX-DC President Reginald Stuart. He said all eight finalists were outstanding. 

“If we had the funds, based on the compelling cases made about each finalist," he said, "I would have asked the foundation board to appropriate more. The students had impeccable credentials and, given this economy, needed all the help we could give, plus more, in some cases.”