SDX D.C. Awards 2013-14 Scholarships

Chapter member support of the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation of Washington, D.C.(SDX/DC) has made it possible for the foundation to award four scholarships to area college students hoping to pursue careers in journalism. The awards of $3,000 each are for the 2013-2014 school yeaMarlena Chertock - Kiplinger Fellowr. The four recipients –three from the University of Maryland and one from American University, will join us Tuesday, June 11 for the annual SPJ Awards Banquet and Hall of Fame Dinner. 

The recipients are:  Zach Cohen, a junior at American University. His personal presentation more than validated his application, as the committee judges found him sharp, witty and collegial. He will be designated a Gridiron Fellow, as part of his scholarship will be funded by the Gridiron Foundation. It returned to our donor ranks last fall. 

Marlena Chertock, a rising senior at the University of Maryland. Chertock’s passion for writing showed in her application and interview, as she was by far the best writer of this year’s group. A superior student, she also demonstrated significant financial need to avoid being among the growing ranks of students to graduate with overwhelming student loan debt.  Chertock will be designated the Kiplinger Fellow, in honor of the support we receive  from the Kiplinger Foundation. She will also be given the $1,000 Ira R. Allen Award, designated for a deserving Maryland print student with funds donated by past scholarship recipient and former foundation board member Ira Allen. 

Brian Compere, a junior at the University of Maryland. This was Brian’s second year seeking SDXDC support. He demonstrated much progress since our encounters this season a year ago and is working on The Diamondback, the campus newspaper,  and at the Montgomery Sentinel, the weekly in Montgomery County, to improve his skills. Brett Hall - Gridiron Fellow

Brett Hall, a rising junior at the University of Maryland, aspires to be a broadcast journalist upon graduation. Toward that goal, he is working two jobs to help his family help him and prepare for the two siblings behind him whom he hopes will go to college. Hall will be designated a Gridiron Fellow, as part of his scholarship will be funded with last fall’s grant from the Gridiron Foundation. 

This marks the 51st year the SDXDC foundation has awarded scholarships to college students in the Washington area who have journalistic aspirations. What an honor it is to continue a legacy dating to the first scholarships funded in 1962 in memory of SDX member Herman Lowe by his late wife, Florence Lowe, mother of current board member Lesley Israel.                                             

Thanks to all of you for your continued support of the chapter and its work, including our supporting of the chapter’s foundation.

Kudos to David Hess, Amy Fickling and Maura Judkis, the foundation’s applicant interview panel. They gave up a peaceful Saturday morning this spring to battle downtown District auto traffic, parades and athletic runs to meet these students.


Reginald A. Stuart