Previous Scholarship Recipients

2026: ATHENA TSENG

Athena is a journalism major at The University of Texas at Austin, minoring in statistics and data science, with a focus on digital strategy and audience engagement. While her foundation is in reporting, her goal is to work at the intersection of journalism, technology, and design to help news organizations better reach and retain audiences.

Through her work with The Daily Texan, she has developed a strong interest in how journalism functions beyond the byline. As Director of Digital Strategy, she helped transition the newsletter to daily publication, improve workflows, and better align print and digital teams. These experiences reinforced that impactful journalism depends not only on strong reporting, but also on systems that make content accessible and sustainable.

She aims to work in audience engagement or product strategy, using data and design to strengthen reader trust and adapt to changing behaviors. This scholarship would ease financial pressure and allow her to focus on leadership, internships, and professional growth.

She is committed to advancing the media industry through innovation and collaboration and hopes to contribute to newsrooms that prioritize ethical reporting and audience-centered strategy.