At its Dec. 5, 2024 IPF Board meeting, the Illinois Press Foundation Board awarded scholarships of $1,200 each to four students in this year’s Public Affairs Reporting Program at the University of Illinois Springfield. The students are Cameron Maine, Mike Mollsen, Isabela Nieto, and Addison Wright.  The scholarships are awarded based upon work experience, academic performance, financial need, and the potential for a career in journalism. 

Cameron Maine is a former Australian e-sports professional who is now an American journalist. He graduated from Illinois State University in May 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He was an anchor, producer and reporter for TV-10 at ISU from August 2022 to May 2024. He won a Student Illinois News Broadcasters Association first-place award in 2024 for Outstanding Soft Television Program for anchoring and producing Good Afternoon Blono. Cameron said that as an Australian, he’s always found U.S. politics more interesting than Australian politics. “While Australia’s election results seemed so inconsequential, America has fast-paced drama where election results affected the entire world. That’s how I got infatuated with American politics,” he said. Cameron’s goal after graduating from UIS is to work for a TV station in Peoria. Cameron will be an intern for WAND-TV during the next semester at UIS.

Picture from Left to right: Jeff Rogers, executive director of IPF, Jerry Reppert, president of IPF, Carmeron Main, PAR scholarship receipient, Jason Piscia, U of I Springfield PAR director

Mike Mollsen graduated from Northern Illinois University in August 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He was the managing editor of the Northern Star at NIU during the spring semester of 2024, after having been news editor and senior news reporter for the student publication. Mike said that he has felt a calling to make a contribution to journalism since joining the Northern Star. “Participating in the watchdog role, being a conduit of information for the public and providing an objective view on important subjects motivated me to be where I am today,” Mike said. His goal is to become an editor of a major news organization, and he would eventually like to teach journalism either as a professor or in an advisory role at a university publication. Mike will be a reporting intern for Lee Enterprises during the spring semester.

Picture from Left to right: Jeff Rogers, executive director of IPF, Jerry Reppert, president of IPF, Mike Mollsen, PAR scholarship receipient, Jason Piscia, U of I Springfield PAR director

Isabela Nieto is a graduate of Bradley University, having earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism in May 2024. She minored in sustainability studies and Spanish language studies. She currently works as a student content producer at WUIS NPR Illinois in Springfield. She previously was a reporting intern and newscaster for WCBU Peoria Public Radio. Of her time at WCBU, Isabela said, “I learned how important it is to provide a free, accessible, and reliable news source to communities that are underrepresented at the state (and national) level.” While she grew up in an environment where she was surrounded by people who dedicated their lives to public service, Isabela said, she is the first in her family to enter the field of journalism. Isabela will work for WBEZ radio in Chicago for her internship during the spring semester.

Picture from Left to right: Jeff Rogers, executive director of IPF, Jerry Reppert, president of IPF, Isabela Nieto, PAR scholarship receipient, Jason Piscia, U of I Springfield PAR director

Addison Wright is a 2024 graduate of the University of North Carolina Asheville, where she received a bachelor’s degree in political science and mass communications. She was news editor at The Blue Banner at UNC Asheville, where she was awarded first and second place in sports writing and second place in news writing by the North Carolina College Media Association. She is currently a freelance writer for Illinois Times, and has worked in nonprofit newsrooms at Asheville Watchdog and The Nashville Banner, where she collaborated with others to relaunch operations. “I am committed to strengthening democracy through fair journalism, holding public officials accountable and engaging local communities,” Addison said. This dedication, she said, is a result of the hands-on opportunities she’s had in the newsrooms mentioned above. Addison will be an intern with the Chicago Tribune in the spring.

Picture from Left to right: Jeff Rogers, executive director of IPF, Jerry Reppert, president of IPF, Addison Wright, PAR scholarship receipient, Jason Piscia, U of I Springfield PAR director