SPORTS TASK FORCE PROGRAMS
SCHOLARSHIPS & FELLOWSHIPS
Al Young Sports Journalism Scholarship
The scholarship winner will be selected on the basis of academic achievement, demonstrated journalistic ability, financial need, a strong commitment to the pursuit of a sports journalism career and dedication to AAJA’s mission of advancing Asian Americans and other underrepresented communities in media.
About Al Young
Eligibility and Rules
- Applicants must be an undergraduate student enrolled full-time with at least 12 credit units each semester at a junior college or university located in the United States
- Applicants must be currently taking or planning to take journalism courses and/or pursuing sports journalism as a career
- Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA
- The selected scholarship recipient must commit to a minimum of five hours of volunteer work for the AAJA Sports Task Force
- The winner must use the scholarship funds to directly support or advance their education. Potential expenses include tuition, room and board, textbooks or other course equipment or materials. The recipient must follow up with the Sports Task Force within 60 days of receipt of the scholarship to identify how they spent the funds
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. PT
Jimmie & Suey Fong Yee Fellowship
The scholarship winner will be selected on the basis of their unique and compelling story pitch, demonstrated journalistic ability, financial need, a strong commitment to the pursuit of a sports journalism career and dedication to AAJA’s mission of advancing Asian Americans and other underrepresented communities in media.
About Jimmie and Suey Fong Yee
Like many Chinese immigrants, Jimmie and Suey Fong Yee immigrated to the U.S. once China fell under Communist rule. They settled in Sacramento and worked hard to create a new life for themselves and their young family. They endured many hardships, but they envisioned and achieved a better future for themselves and their children. They were proud of their heritage as Chinese. One of the important values they taught their children was to be sympathetic to the plight, journey, and struggle of others. Just as the Yees received help from others, it was their wish to return their good fortune by helping other Asians striving to achieve their dreams.
About Don Yee
Donald H. Yee is a partner and founder of Yee & Dubin Sports, LLC., a sports management consulting firm that represents some of the nation’s leading professional athletes, coaches and broadcasters. Yee, a graduate of UCLA and the University of Virginia School of Law, also is a frequent speaker and writer on sports-related issues. He is a former adjunct professor of law at the University of Southern California law school and a visiting professor of law at the University of Virginia School of Law.
Eligibility and Rules
- Applicants must pitch a story they can realistically produce with their resources and time
- Unique stories that humanize Asian Americans in sports are highly preferred
- Pitches can include stories that are local, regional or national
For currently enrolled students:
- Applicants must be an undergraduate or graduate student enrolled full-time with at least 12 credit units each semester at a junior college or university located in the United States
- Applicants must be currently taking or planning to take journalism courses and/or pursuing sports journalism as a career
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
For currently enrolled students:
- Applicants must have graduated from a community college or university, including graduate school, located in the United States within the past five (5) years.
- Applicants must be currently and actively pursuing sports journalism as a career
The selected fellowship winners must follow through with their story pitches as well as commit to a minimum of five hours of volunteer work for the AAJA Sports Task Force.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. PT
Michael Kim Broadcast Fellowship
A sports broadcast journalist who has less than three years of professional experience will receive $2,000 to support career pursuits in honor of Michael Kim, the godfather of AAJA’s Sports Task Force and a pioneer for Asian Americans in sports broadcast journalism. The scholarship is made possible thanks to the Sports Task Force and an annual donation by Michael Kim.
The scholarship winner will be selected on the basis of demonstrated journalistic ability, financial need, a strong commitment to the pursuit of a sports journalism career and dedication to AAJA’s mission of advancing Asian Americans and other underrepresented communities in media.
About Michael Kim
Michael Kim is a groundbreaking anchor who opened doors for the Asian community at the Worldwide Leader in Sports. Kim was an anchor at SportsCenter for 17 years and was one of the original anchors who launched the innovate ESPNNews.
Kim now works as the anchor of The Stadium on Marquee Sports Network. Prior to ESPN, Kim won a Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Show – Daily. Kim is a graduate of the University of Missouri.
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
- Applicants must work in the broadcast sports industry in some form, either as on-camera talent or behind-the-scenes producer
- Applicants must be within three years of college graduation and/or in their first television market
- Applicants must demonstrate financial need
- The selected scholarship winner must commit to a minimum of five hours of volunteer work for the AAJA Sports Task Force
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. PT
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