“My work with NVT drives me to write about how student journalists feel let down by legacy media newsrooms,” Kona said in her application essay. “But as I speak to student journalists across the country, the story becomes how, even though we continue to be let down, we should continue to believe in the power of words.”
Kona participated in the PBS News Student Reporting Labs from 2023-2025, co-hosting the “On Our Minds: Election 2024” podcast and working with the student advisory team to cover how the 2024 election was affecting youth. She also interned at KERA, North Texas Public Broadcasting, covering breaking news for the specialty beats editor.
Recommendation letters from Kona’s teachers and supervisors praised her leadership acumen, press freedom advocacy, and professionalism.
“Poojasai stands out for the rare combination of editorial skill, initiative, and commitment to journalistic standards,” said Colleen Smith, newspaper adviser at Frisco High School. “She is not afraid to tackle sensitive issues that affect our student body and community, yet she does so with grace, nuance, and careful sourcing.”
“I have been impressed with her dedication to protecting the rights of student journalists at such an early age,” said David Doerr, journalism educator and adviser at New Voices of Texas. “Her ability to form strategic relationships with media outlets and the Student Press Law Center has been instrumental in garnering publicity for New Voices Texas' mission to pass a state law protecting student press rights.”
The Julie Schoo Scholarship for Diversity in Journalism provides the recipient $5,000 per year over four years to support academic expenses. Named in memory of the late Julie Schoo, a previous executive director of the National Press Club Journalism Institute, the scholarship is awarded annually to an outstanding high school student who is considering a career in journalism.
“Poojasai is already doing the work of a seasoned journalist through advocating for press freedom, mentoring peers, and telling stories that matter,” said NPC President Mark Schoeff Jr. “We are proud to invest in a student who so clearly understands why journalism matters, and we look forward to seeing what she does next.”
In addition to funding, scholarship winners are awarded one-year complimentary membership to the Press Club.
Club Scholarships are administered by its nonprofit affiliate, the National Press Club Journalism Institute.
Scholarship winners are selected by a group of volunteer judges, led by Scholarship Team Leads Erin Looney and Caitlin Mullaney. The judges for the Scholarship for Journalism Diversity Honoring Julie Schoo were Susan Heavey, Lisa Matthews, Deanna McCray-James, Shahid Mobasher, Maggie Rhoads, and Monica Richardson.
