Starla Sampaco, 21, received a scholarship to attend the national Asian American Journalist Association convention, which will be held at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas from August 10 to 13. As a recipient of the 2016 AAJA Seattle Founders Scholarship, Sampaco has an opportunity to attend workshops, participate in panel discussions and network at the career fair expo at the convention.
The University of Washington junior is double majoring in Journalism and Law, Societies, and Justice. Sampaco will graduate in June 2017.
Journalism is something Sampaco has wanted to do since she was eight years old. “I am proud to be a first-generation American, and my experience as the daughter of Filipino immigrants influenced my passion for stories involving immigrants and underrepresented communities,” Sampaco said. “Journalism empowers people to tell their own stories.”
Seattle Times engagement editor Anika Anand, who helped out with the scholarship program, said Sampaco was awarded the scholarship based on her resume, portfolio, and application. Sampaco’s application described why she wants to pursue journalism, how the scholarship would help her achieve her career goals, and why diversity is important in the journalism profession.
Currently, Sampaco is a digital projects editor at The Daily of The University of Washington and is a freelance writer for Seattle Globalist and Northwest Asian Weekly.
Here are other Sampaco’s notable accolades:
• Made the 2016 “Husky 100” list which recognizes 100 UW undergraduate and graduate students making the most of their time at the university.
• Won the title of 2014 Miss Washington Teen USA and received various scholarships including a summer scholarship at the New York Film Academy in 2015.
