Since 1996, the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh has awarded almost $60,000 to students preparing for careers in journalism through two scholarships, in the memory of our late vice president, columnist Sally Kalson, now valued at $2,500 each to undergraduates who plan careers in print journalism as reporters, copy editors, photographers, paginators or graphics designers. 

This money is raised through “Off the Record” a satirical production of the Newspaper Guild, the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Radio and Television Artists.  In addition to supporting the scholarship, the primary beneficiary of this effort is the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

The winners are chosen by a volunteer committee of Guild members who score entries based on academic achievement, quality of journalism in the writing samples submitted, letters of recommendation, a personal essay.

In 2016, our winners are:

Delaney Hassell of Erie is a sophomore at Robert Morris University and news editor of RMU Sentry Media.

In that capacity, she is a writer, editor and manager of the news section.

In continuing coverage, she followed the selection process of college president Christopher B. Howard and was able to get interviews with key members of the selection committees.

As a sophomore, her short, busy career has continues to prepare her for a future in evolving journalism, with exposure in all areas of the field.

She is both an anchor and producer for the television production RMU-Live, and has reported for RMU-Radio in pre- and post-game sports coverage and has provided intermission reports for hockey Three Rivers Classic at the CONSOL Center

In 2014 she received the RMU Academic Media Center’s Newcomer Award and placed second for a multimedia story submitted to the Society for Collegiate Journalists.

Delaney is a member of the Western Pennsylvania Press Club and the Women’s Press Club of Pittsburgh.  She’s joined here today by her parents Bill and Eileen Hassell.

Today we are also happy to recognize Kimberly Baston, a junior from Waynesburg University and executive editor of the Waynesburg Yellow Jacket.

In addition to reporting and writing for each edition, she manages a staff of 23

Kimberly is a student writer for the office of University Relations at Waynesburg and has worked as a stringer for the Greene County Messenger.

She is a three-time winner of the  Mark of Excellence Award from the Society of Professional Journalists, Region 4, and has also been honored by the American Scholastic Press Association.

She has placed first for ongoing news coverage in competition for the Keystone Press Awards.

Kimberly is a graduate of Norwin High School and is here today with her parents Barb and Ray Baston.