Bess Whitehead Scott

07/23/2023

A big honor for our former BWS scholarship winner!

01/14/2023

Looking for journalists with 10 or more years of experience:
Applications for the $3,000 Bess Whitehead Scott Scribes Scholarship will be accepted through Friday, March 10, 2023.
Applicants should demonstrate an interest in pursuing a degree or career advancement through academic study in journalism, communication or a related field.
Eligible students enrolled in a Texas college or university for the 2023-24 academic year are encouraged to apply through the Headliners Foundation of Texas.

01/14/2023

END OF AN ERA

After more than three decades of awarding scholarships to journalists and writers, the Bess Whitehead Scott Scholarship Fund has wrapped up its rich history by transferring granting responsibilities to two like-minded institutions. This move is intended to preserve the legacy of a trailblazing woman who plowed through gender barriers in the 20th century and served as an inspiration to many.

• The Headliners Foundation of Texas has taken over awarding an annual journalism scholarship to working journalists wishing to enhance their education credentials. The Bess Whitehead Scott Scribes Scholarship goes to a journalist with 10 or more years of experience.

• The Writers’ League of Texas (WLT), which created the original scholarship in 1990, has completed the circle and established the annual Bess Whitehead Scott Creative Writing Fellowship. The fellowship allows a writer age 40 or over to attend WLT classes and conferences, connect to the larger literary community and learn the writing business.

“Both the journalism scholarship and the creative writing fellowship carry Bess’ name,” says Elaine Davenport, who co-chaired the Bess W. Scott Scholarships for more than 30 years. “We trust that each scholarship recipient and WLT fellow will carry forward the spirit of Bess, who dared to invade an all-male newsroom and went on to champion writers all her life.”

Scott died in 1997 at 107. The Fund bearing her name awarded 61 scholarships from 1991 to 2019, for a total of $74,800.

The Fund wishes to thank the scores supporters and donors who championed scholarships for journalists, not to mention the army of volunteers who showed up to wrap Christmas gifts for donations. We also appreciate the scholarship committee members who gave their time screening each year's applications and debating the merits of each before choosing the scholarship winner. For all of this, Bess would be so proud!

07/18/2022

Three cheers for Amarillo TV journalist Jackie Kingston, the 2022 winner of the Bess Whitehead Scott Scribes Scholarship. The award gives preference to a non-traditional student with at least 10 years of professional work experience in journalism, nonfiction writing or a related field and is administered by the Headliners Foundation of Texas.
Kingston will use the $3,000 award to complete a Master of Arts in Communication at West Texas A&M University in Canyon. "My goals include teaching the next generation of journalists at the collegiate level," she said.
Kingston anchors three daily newscasts on KAMR Local 4 News in Amarillo and, as executive producer, is responsible for daily news content. She also anchors the daily variety show Studio 4 and co-produces the area's only weekly political TV show, "Politics Today."
Outside of work, Kingston is board president of the High Plains Food Bank. She also has served on the Friends of the Amarillo Zoo advisory board and as chair of the Susan G. Komen West Texas Amarillo Race for the Cure.
Kingston graduated with honors in 2009 from West Texas A&M University with a degree in broadcasting and has worked in local television news since. She remembers a job during college when an older reporter offered advice that became foundational for her: "In this industry," said the co-worker, "you're either a work horse or a show pony. You get to choose, but you can't be both." Kingston knew immediately which one she wanted to be "and I hope I have not been outworked since."
In 2018 she began teaching broadcasting classes at her alma mater. Kingston is especially proud to be "working alongside some new colleagues who are former students of mine."

07/31/2021

Former TV journalist Yoojin Cho is the 2021 winner of the Bess Whitehead Scott Scribes Scholarship, which was awarded by the Headliners Foundation of Texas. She will use the $3,000 award to complete a Master of Arts and Mass Communication at Texas State University.

Cho has 10 years of experience in broadcast journalism and continues to be a passionate storyteller in the public information sector. She graduated cm laude from Boston University with bachelor’s degrees in broadcast journalism and international relations. Her first job was at the Martha’s Vineyard Times in Massachusetts.

Cho’s work as a television news reporter took her to WWLP News in Springfield, Mass., Spectrum News in Charlotte, N.C., and KXAN News in Austin. During this time, she covered national stories such as the Sandy Hook school shooting and the Austin serial bomber.

Cho says diversity in local newsrooms is important to her and a topic she wants to pursue in her studies. She explained: “I've been thinking more and more about how local newsrooms don't always reflect the population of their community. It's important to have women and people of color not only on the reporting staff but also in leadership positions that make day-to-day decisions on what stories get covered."

04/09/2021

Big news for our scholarship winner!

Join us in welcoming Diana R. Fuentes as IRE’s next executive director! She’ll lead the 6,000-member organization starting at the end of April. Read more about Fuentes and her initiatives for the organization: https://www.ire.org/ire-names-veteran-journalist-as-next-executive-director/

03/07/2021

SCHOLARSHIP FOR EXPERIENCED JOURNALISTS / WRITERS

The application window is still open for the Scott Scribes Journalism & Writing Scholarship at the Headliners Foundation of Texas. Application deadline is March 19, 2021.

The $3,000 scholarship is granted annually to a non-traditional student seeking education or career advancement through academic study in fields related to journalism and writing. Strong preference will be given to applicants with 10-15 years of professional work experience in journalism, nonfiction writing or a related field.

The scholarship can be used for:
1) Work toward an accredited undergraduate or graduate college/university degree;
2) Accredited college/university coursework taken as a non-degree-seeking student either in residence or online; or
3) Academic residencies/internships.

Applicants must be a Texas resident and demonstrate financial need. Application and eligibility guidelines are available at https://www.headlinersfoundation.org/bws.

03/06/2021

The BWS Scribes Scholarship Committee is grateful for your generous and continued support!

03/05/2021

Heartful thanks to everyone who has contributed to BWS Scribes Scholarship Amplify Austin campaign so far. We still need support to reach our goal to help other journalists fulfill their dreams. Contributions of any amount given by 6 PM today will be greatly appreciated.

I’m ready to support Bess Whitehead Scott Scholarship Fund on March 4, 2021 during Amplify Austin Day 2021. Learn more about Bess Whitehead Scott Scholarship Fund and all the other organizations participating in .

03/05/2021

"My deepest gratitude goes to the Bess W. Scott Scribes Scholarship Fund for your encouragement and support."
--Elizabeth Cernota Clark, 2019 Scholarship Winner

Please help us award scholarships to journalists and writers in the name of pioneering Texas journalist Bess Scott. Go to https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/bess-whitehead-scott-scholarship-fund to donate. Enter in the "Donation Message" box for a $5 match from Tito's Vodka.

03/05/2021

Diana Fuentes, deputy metro editor at the San Antonio Express-News, was the 2020 winner of the Bess W. Scott Scribes Scholarship. Fuentes used her $3,000 award to study in the Master of Mass Communication program at Texas State University. She finds nurturing the next generation of reporters rewarding. With a master's degree she'll be able to transfer her teaching to the the classroom.

Please help us continue to nurture journalists and writers in the name of pioneering Texas journalist Bess Scott. Go to https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/bess-whitehead-scott-scholarship-fund to donate. Enter in the "Donation Message" box for a $5 match from Tito's Vodka.

03/05/2021

The Bess W. Scott Scribes Scholarship is awarded annually to a non-traditional student in fields related to journalism and writing. Strong preference will be given to applicants with 10-15 years of professional work experience in journalism, nonfiction writing or a related field. We would be honored if you would make a donation at https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/bess-whitehead-scott-scholarship-fund. Enter in the "Donation Message" box for a $5 match from Tito's Vodka.

Since 1991, the Bess Whitehead Scott Scholarship Fund has awarded annual scholarships to aspiring journalists and writers. The scholarship program was named for one of the state’s pioneering women in journalism, Bess Whitehead Scott, who died in 1997 at age 107. She had a celebrated career in news...