Monique John Recipient of 2012 Fordham University Casey Feldman Scholarship
Monique John, Fordham University 2012 Casey Feldman Memorial Foundation Scholarship Recipeint
“Ms. Monique John is an extraordinary student who has made a strong impression on everyone who has taught her”, stated Dr. Brian Rose, Fordham College Lincoln Center (FCLC), in describing this year’s 2012 Fordham University Casey Feldman scholarship recipient. “Her tremendous commitment to her coursework and her overwhelming focus on a career in journalism reminds me, in many ways, of Casey”, added Dr.Rose. A junior at FCLC where she maintains a 3.7 GPA, Ms. John is managing editor of the Observer, FCLC’s award winning student newspaper and President of Molimo, Fordham’s black cultural club. Also fluent in Spanish, Monique is double majoring in communication and media studies and African and African American studies.
In recommending Ms. John for the scholarship, Associate Professor Albert Auster said, “More than being an A student in her studies Monique … was a vigorous, outspoken and intelligent contributor to discussions on the issues that we discussed in class…. Her research papers were well thought out, thoroughly researched, and filled with cogent insights into whatever area she was looking at…. She was one of a few students who could make the classes she was in more than just discussions of the issues of class, but she could bring to bear a wide gamut of experiences that were impressive.”
Also no stranger to community service and social commitment, Ms John has worked with Global Outreach Florida as a Team Leader with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, the Immokalee Housing & Family Services and Habitat for Humanity. Last year’s summer vacation was spent with the Children’s Defense Fund’s Freedom School in Mount Vernon, NY as a Servant Leader Intern working with middle school and high school students to improve their reading skills, teaching dance classes for 5 to 17 year olds and leading students on field trips.
The Casey Feldman Memorial Foundation scholarship will provide Monique with $2500 to intern this spring semester at Redbook Magazine, an unpaid position that Ms. John would otherwise have had to forgo for part time employment to help cover college expenses. Monique will be working in the online department where she will assist in uploading the magazine’s content to its website, develop story ideas and write articles for the print and online version of the magazine. She will also be formatting and responding to reader emails and submissions, copy-editing and researching online sources to enhance Redbook’s article content.
In expressing her gratitude to the Foundation Monique stated, “The Casey Feldman scholarship will make a tremendous, positive impact on my experience as an intern and college student in the spring 2012 semester. Now that I am not pressured to work while going to school, I can focus on my coursework, gain experience and connections in my field through a demanding internship, and have the freedom to maintain my involvement within Fordham’s student organizations. I am confident that when I complete this internship, I will be a more well-rounded journalist and attractive job applicant, better equipped with the technical skills to present media content to the public. I am thrilled that I have been awarded such a great honor held in the name of a phenomenal young woman that paved the way for me at the Observer.”
[At the time of her death, Casey Feldman was about to enter her senior year at Fordham College Lincoln Center where she was news editor of The Observer and an aspiring broadcast journalist. She had accepted a fall internship at a NY television station. Click on “About Casey” at the top of the page to read Casey’s bio. Click here to go to the Memories site to read Casey’s articles published in The Observer. ]
Related Links:
Fordham University: http://www.fordham.edu/
Fordham College Lincoln Center (FCLC) : http://www.fordham.edu/academics/colleges__graduate_s/undergraduate_colleg/fordham_college_at_l/
The Observer (FCLC student newspaper): http://www.fordhamobserver.com/
