8-29-2025 4:06am

Sinclair Awards $57K

Sinclair Names 2025 Annual Scholarship Winners

Sinclair awarded scholarships to 15 university students as part of its annual scholarship program.

Now in its twelfth year, the program has awarded a total of $431,414 in tuition assistance since its inception in 2013. This year, Sinclair awarded $57,500 to the following students:

Sara Balanta – University of Southern California

Edwardina Beeko – Towson University

Elleiana Green – Northwestern University

Bria Hughley – University of Missouri

Dashia Johnson – Ashland University

Lalaj Johnson – Temple University

Brianna Jones – University of Cincinnati

Christian Lee – Temple University

Ava Paulsen – Northwestern University

Victoria Perez – University of Florida

Taylor Powell – University of Dayton

Stephanie Rodriguez – University of North Carolina-Wilmington

Micah Sandy – Northwestern University

Gian Marco Velasquez – University of Southern California

Jessica Watts – Northwestern University

“Sinclair is committed to developing emerging talent, and these students have the skills and drive that are essential to the future of our industry. We’re honored to support their academic journeys and excited to see the impact they have as they begin their careers,” said Chris Ripley, Sinclair president-CEO.

Sinclair Scholarship

The annual Sinclair Scholarship aims to invest in the future of the broadcast industry and help students complete their education and pursue careers in journalism, digital storytelling, and marketing. Now in its twelfth year, the program has awarded a total of $431,414 in tuition assistance since its inception in 2013.

Meet Our 2025 Recipients

Sara Balanta is a Public Relations and Advertising major at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, with a minor in Cinematic Arts. As a Creative Marketing Intern at HBO/Max, Sara curates content collections and pitches social media strategies that enhance viewer engagement. Sara has leadership experience as a multimedia journalist for Annenberg Media and is a Creative Strategist for Trojan Marketing Group. She has also had professional marketing experience working with brands like Beats by Dre, Levi’s Strauss & Co and Yaté Yerba Mate.

Bria Hughley is a dedicated Environmental Sciences major at the University of Missouri-Columbia, with a concentration in Atmospheric Science and a minor in Journalism. Bria began her academic journey at the University of Oklahoma, where she studied Meteorology and Broadcast Meteorology, before transferring to Mizzou. As an intern with Sinclair, Bria collaborated with reporters to cover local stories and authored numerous web articles. Bria is an active member of the Mizzou Meteorology Club and has earned Dean’s List honors at both the University of Oklahoma and the University of Missouri.

Brianna Jones attends University of Cincinnati, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Communications with minors in Digital Broadcast News and Sports Media. As a sports reporter for The News Record, the university’s student-run newspaper, Brianna covers games, conducts interviews, and writes articles. Her passion for sports media is further reflected in her role as a Sports Communications Archive Assistant for UC Athletics, where she helped digitize and preserve key media materials for future use. She is a member of the Darwin T. Turner Scholarship and the Washington Media Fellow scholarship.

Victoria Perez attends the University of Florida, where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in journalism with a minor in Leadership. She is a PATHS Scholar and an active reporter for WUFT News. Before transferring to the University of Florida, Victoria earned her associate’s degree in journalism from Miami Dade Honors College, graduating with Highest Honors. During her time there, she served as Treasurer of the Student Government Association. She also participated in The Washington Center’s Inside Washington Seminar. Victoria’s dedication has been recognized through numerous accolades, including being a Miami Herald Silver Knight Nominee and receiving multiple All-Florida Awards from the Florida Scholastic Press Association.

Micah Sandy is a journalism and political science student at Northwestern University. He is an HSF scholar for the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and was a 2024 a recipient of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists’ Ana Real Scholarship. As Executive Producer, Reporter, and Anchor for the Northwestern News Network, Micah leads editorial direction and delivers live news coverage. His editorial leadership extends to The Daily Northwestern, where he has served in several roles. Micah’s reporting experience includes covering politics in Washington, D.C. as a Medill News Service politics reporter and producing a bilingual mini-documentary during a JOURneys program in Bogotá, Colombia.

Edwardina Beeko is a journalism student at Towson University, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication with a concentration in Journalism. As a news reporter for Towerlight, Towson’s independent student newspaper, Edwardina covers campus events and student life, producing stories that connect the university community. She also plays a key role in the Towson Newscast Club, where she is a reporter and secretary. As President and Director of Finance for the University Building Council, Edwardina organizes events for over 400 residents and manages budgets. She also serves as Recruitment Chair for the Broadcast Education Association.

Dashia Johnson is a student at Ashland University, double majoring in Digital Media Journalism and Digital Media Production with a minor in Conflict Resolution. She currently serves as Sports Editor for The Collegian, Ashland’s student newspaper, a Sports Anchor and Reporter for AUTV and a weekly Radio Host on WRDL 88.9 FM. Her academic and extracurricular achievements include membership in the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, participation in the Ashland University Peace Scholars program, and recognition as a winner of the 3rd Annual Written and Composition Contest for her work on “Exploring the Impact of Peaceful Journalism.”

Christian Lee is a journalism student at Temple University, where he is pursuing a dual major in Journalism and Political Science with a concentration in International Communication. A member of the Honors Program, Christian was named Top Scholar in the Journalism Department for the Class of 2027. He serves as a producer for Update Now and as a desk anchor, web manager, and assistant producer for Temple Update. Christian’s journalistic reach extended to New Hampshire during the presidential primaries, profiling candidates and producing multimedia content for presidentialhopefuls.org. Beyond the newsroom, Christian is the Director of Outreach and Engagement for Temple Student Government.

Taylor Powell is a student at the University of Dayton, majoring in Communications with a concentration in Media Production and a minor in Public Relations. As Flyer TV Manager at the University of Dayton, Taylor has played a role in producing live and recorded content, collaborating with ESPN+ to cover university sporting events. Her leadership extends to mentoring peers in video production and serving as a student teacher for first-year communication students. Her internship experiences include working with Region Sports Network, and with ScreenApp. Taylor also contributes remotely to YoungPop Media.

Gian Marco Velásquez attends the University of Southern California, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts at the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and a Master of Studies in Law at the Gould School of Law. With hands-on experience at NBCUniversal’s Telemundo 52 in Los Angeles and Telemundo 51 in Miami, Gian Marco has worked across investigative reporting, news production, and live field reporting. On campus, he serves as a lead anchor and bilingual reporter for InformaTV and ATVN. He also holds leadership roles with the USC chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

Elleiana Green attends Northwestern University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Journalism with a double major in Political Science and a certificate in Marketing. As a Digital Politics Intern at NBC Universal, Elleiana contributed to over 100 bylines covering pivotal moments in the 2024 election cycle. She has also served as a Senior Research Assistant for New York Times bestselling authors Jon Allen and Amie Parnes, contributing to their forthcoming book and has an upcoming internship at Bloomberg Law. On campus, Elleiana is a Lead Writer for Northwestern’s Black Pre-Law Association, she also conducts research at the Institute for Policy Research.

Lalaj Johnson is a Broadcast Journalism student at Temple University’s Klein College of Media and Communication. She is a summa cum laude graduate of Luzerne County Community College with an A.A.S. in Broadcast Audio/Video Communications. Lalaj worked as a reporter, anchor, and producer for TuTV’s The Temp. She also contributes as a freelance reporter for The Temple News, covering campus events, public safety, and local happenings. Her hands-on experience includes a newsroom internship at WBRE. Lalaj has also held leadership roles, serving as president and lead anchor for The Cube at Luzerne TV. She is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).

Ava Paulsen is a journalism major at Northwestern University with minors in creative writing and entrepreneurship. She is the Creative Writing Section Editor for North by Northwestern and currently serves as the Anthology Intern at Get Lit - Words Ignite, a nonprofit that empowers youth through poetry. An award-winning journalist, children’s book author, and aspiring novelist, Ava is passionate about storytelling that makes people think about the world and how they move through it. Originally from Los Angeles, she brings her experience navigating invisible disability to her creative and professional work and hopes to build a career where storytelling and creativity drive meaningful change.

Stephanie Rodriguez is a Communications major at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts with a minor in Journalism. As a reporter for Teal TV’s Seahawk Central News, Stephanie covers a wide range of topics—from student life to community events—delivering on-camera reports and collaborating with her team to produce impactful stories. Her passion for social media and communications also shines through her internship with Working Films. A member of Alpha Psi Lambda National Inc., Stephanie has held multiple leadership roles, including External Vice President, and Public Relations Chair/Social Chair.

Jessica Watts is a journalism and anthropology student at Northwestern University, where she has been named to the Dean’s List five times. As Executive Producer for WNUR News, Jessica leads a team of 50 staff members, overseeing content and live broadcasts. She also serves as Vice President of Career Development for Northwestern’s NABJ chapter, where she organizes professional development events and connects students with alumni mentors. Jessica’s multimedia skills shine through her work as a digital content creator for Northwestern Wildside. She is an Audio Production Intern at the Journal of the American Medical Association.