The New England Newspaper and Press Association awards up to 10 scholarships each year to aspiring journalists through the Journalism Education Foundation of New England (JEFNE). The foundation strives to support and encourage young people who wish to pursue a career in journalism.

Each year, college students and high school seniors from New England who are studying and gaining work experience to prepare them for a career in journalism, are eligible to apply for JEFNE scholarships.

2023 is the first year JEFNE has bestowed the MacGregor Fiske Scholarship, a scholarship honoring Mac Fiske, a fourth-generation newspaperman, who died in 2009 at the age of 75.

We are proud to announce the recipients of the 2023 Journalism Scholarships:

  • Megan Gentile, Boston College – MacGregor Fiske Scholarship recipient
  • Rebeca Pereira, Northeastern University
  • Thomas Lyons, Wesleyan University
  • Sara Bedigian, University of Connecticut
  • Briana Ortiz, University of Connecticut
  • Aashna Miharia, New York University

We asked the students how the scholarship will help them while studying journalism, and this is what they had to say:

Megan Gentile is from Chestnut Hill, MA, and attends Boston College.

Through my experience working for my college newspaper, I have fostered a desire to continue using journalism to engage and inform the public and share the stories of communities and individuals that would otherwise go untold. The Journalism Education Foundation Of New England Scholarship will aid me in furthering my education at Boston College in order to gain the experience and knowledge needed for a career in the media industry. It is an honor to receive this award from such a distinguished organization.

Rebeca Pereira is from Malden, MA, and will be attending Northeastern University.

The Journalism Education Foundation of New England’s generous scholarship comes at a fortuitous moment — in May, I graduated from UMass Amherst and decided that I would pursue my master’s in Media Innovation and Data Communication at Northeastern University. My acceptance to my graduate program of choice was a welcome surprise, but I knew that financing my education would be a different story. Enter this scholarship, which will directly fund my transportation and tuition costs while I embark on this new academic journey. I’m very grateful to JEFNE and the New England Newspaper & Press Association for their confidence in my potential and their financial support.

Thomas Lyons is from Deerfield, MA, and attends Wesleyan University.

With deep gratitude, I am honored to accept this New England Newspaper and Press Association scholarship. Last April, I attended the annual NENPA Boston convention as a Community Journalism Fellow with The Provincetown Independent, and I remain inspired by the room full of journalistic passion, local knowledge, and the belief in the importance of good reporting. While anyone involved in local journalism knows the dangers presented by limited funding and corporate buyouts, this scholarship and NENPA’s institutional work reminds me that regional groups continue to support newspapers and reporters. This scholarship will support my ability to perform unpaid reporting in college and allow me to continue to engage in critical thinking with students and professors.

Sara Bedigian is from Northbridge, MA, and attends the University of Connecticut.

I am honored and grateful to have received the JEFNE Scholarship. This scholarship will help me continue my education and obtain the skills I need in order to become a successful journalist. I have always loved to write and my college education is solidifying my passion for writing and journalism. As an aspiring journalist, I hope that one day I can make a difference in my community.  I am thankful for JEFNE for believing in me and helping me on my journey.

Briana Ortiz is from Norwalk, CT, and attends the University of Connecticut.

I am honored and grateful to have received the JEFNE Scholarship. This scholarship will help me continue my education and obtain the skills I need in order to become a successful journalist. I have always loved to write and my college education is solidifying my passion for writing and journalism. As an aspiring journalist, I hope that one day I can make a difference in my community.  I am thankful for JEFNE for believing in me and helping me on my journey.

Aashna Miharia is from Winchester, MA, and will be attending New York University.

As an incoming first-year college student, I am so grateful and humbled to receive this scholarship. It will financially support me as I strive to study journalism and gain practical experience at New York University. Moreover, this recognition by the Journalism Education Foundation of New England highly motivates me to continue pursuing my passion for journalism and someday lead a career in this field.