SHSJC Freshman Wins Esteemed Media Scholarship

Freshman and broadcast journalism/prelaw major Lezla Alease Gooden has been awarded the highly coveted Emma L. Bowen Foundation Scholarship for Minority Interests in the Media.

The Emma L. Bowen Foundation was established in 1989 to assist minority students interested in pursuing careers in media.

One of several recipients, Gooden competed against 3,000 applications nationwide and secured a spot as a paid intern with C-SPAN television in Washington, D.C. A component of the scholarship program includes the selection of interns to work with partner companies to acquire the work-related skills necessary to gain full-time employment upon graduation. Gooden also will receive matching scholarship funds from the Foundation to pursue her major at Hampton University as the university of her choice, as well as an internship for 2011 and 2012.

Gooden received a congratulatory letter, highlighting her achievement, from Sandra Rice the Foundation's vice president. Rice noted the benefits that this award affords Gooden.

"[Gooden] is one among a select group of students in the country who has this unique opportunity to learn about the media industry and the variety of career opportunities it offers on a firsthand basis."

Recently elected to Hampton’s Student Council, Gooden has earned distinction for her academic achievement and writing ability, including scoring internships with The Washington Post and National Public Radio.