Student Chapter Member Christina Durano Wins
Fulbright Scholarship, Heads to Philippines!
By Betsy Model, Chapter President
Christina Durano, a student chapter member and board secretary for SPJ Rio Grande, has won a 2010-2011 Fulbright Scholarship and will be doing her 9-month research project at the University of the Philippines-Dilman in Manila. Christina will be studying the role of Filipino national television broadcast reports in the 1986 People’s Power Revolution and overthrow of Ferdinand Marcos.
Christina readily credits using her membership and board role with the Rio Grande chapter as part of her resume, essay and application for the Fulbright Grant. “I feel like my experience as an SPJ board member really helped me stand out as a candidate for the Fulbright Grant,” admits Christina. “In my application, I was able to draw upon some of my experiences in SPJ to demonstrate my passion for journalism and media as a conduit for social change. Without (that involvement) I doubt I would have been able to communicate my zeal for the industry in such a tangible and pronounced way that allowed me to distinguish myself as a top candidate for this outstanding opportunity. This is undoubtedly the biggest honor I have ever received and I look forward to conducting research that I hope will truly make a difference in journalism.”
Christina’s scholarship will run from June through March, 2011 and while we’ll miss her as an active member of the chapter – and a great board secretary! – we wish her all the best and look forward to her returning next spring with some great stories.