2024 Scholarship recipients
Each year, NATAS-UMW Foundation awards several scholarships to students within our chapter region (Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and western Wisconsin).
This year, thanks to help from generous sponsorship contributions from the Bob Fransen Family, The Ulysses Carlini family, The Beaurline Family Foundation, as well as our chapter members and past Gold & Silver Circle honorees, we are able to award scholarships to area students! This year’s scholarship recipients will receive $1,500 for tuition & books costs for school in the fall of 2024.
Since 2002, the NATAS-UMW Foundation has awarded 103 scholarships worth $228,500 to regional students who want to study media production or journalism in college.
2024 HIGH SCHOOL recipients
presidents scholarship
Ava Krebs - Lakeville South High School (mn)
Ava Krebs is a senior at Lakeville South High School (MN). Ava learned the power of video media through her school’s broadcast media class. She works on the weekly show called “The Southside”.
Ava enjoys reporting, directing, running teleprompter, audio, cameras and writing scripts. She says it helped her learn the power of video media and how much of an impact it has made in strengthening her school’s community.
Next year, Ava plans to study communications at Gustavus Adolphus College.
GOVERNORS SCHOLARSHIP
Scott Leslie - Duluth Denfled High School (MN)
Scott Leslie is a senior at Denfeld High School in Duluth, Minnesota. He’s circled around media experiences that past few years working in Graphic Arts, Journalism and Photography/Cinematography.
Scott loves to write stories and create short films. He plans to someday spark conversations, educate, unite and strengthen communities through producing content in a way where audiences can self reflect or question society or norms.
Scott has been accepted at a few colleges, and expects to commit by graduation. He plans to get his bachelors degree in film and immediately start creating art.
2024 COLLEGE recipients
BOB FRANSEN LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP
Christopher Hovden - Minnesota State University - Moorhead
Christopher Hovden is studying Broadcast Journalism. He is currently a co-anchor, producer, reporter, photographer, and writer on the Minnesota State University - Moorhead's Campus News program,
On top of school, he is currently a producer intern at WDAY – the Fargo, ND ABC affiliate.
Chris caught the video bug in high school, where he served as the Student Director of Videography. This led to many long days producing live sports and other activities.
ULYSSES CARLINI MEDIA SCHOLARSHIP
Ella Thomsen -
Minneapolis Community & Technical College
Ella Thomsen is a filmmaker with a focus on writing and directing.
Most recently she made a short film titled “Pretty,” a film about body image. She is currently working on making a coming of age short for her second semester, while also writing scripts for summer projects.
Ella went to film camp in 2022 as part of the EDU film festival's summer "Horror High". She got to work on a set with professional industry creators on an short film.
Ella hopes to make films that unite people and tell untold stories.
Beaurline Foundation SCHOLARSHIP
John Valtman -
University of Iowa
"Johnny" Valtman is a sophomore studying journalism and mass communication. He is the assistant news director at DITV, the student run newscast.
Johnny is active as a production assistant at Big 10 Network. He will be intern at KCCI 8 in Des Moines this summer.
Since joining DITV, Johnny has covered a wide variety of events including campus protests, the Iowa Caucus, the Iowa Women’s basketball team’s 2022/23 season.
After graduation, Johnny plans to pursue a career as a news producer and eventually work his way up to news director.