Investing in the Future
SAAHJ is dedicated to helping Latinos and young professionals of all backgrounds pursue their careers in journalism and other areas of the communications sector. Every year, we help advance these endeavors by awarding tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships to deserving students at our annual scholarship gala.
Beginning at our 2020 gala to at least the 2023 gala, San Antonio-native and New York Times best-selling author Shea Serrano provided our organization funds to specifically provide a $5,000 scholarship in his name to a student who is either interested in becoming a journalist or a published author.
*For the first year of the Shea Serrano scholarship, it will be limited to students from or attending college in San Antonio. This eligibility requirement for his scholarship will change in 2021 to be open to all students regardless of residency.
Scholarship Application
Applications are currently closed.
Thanks to a partnership with the San Antonio Area Foundation, SAAHJ has an online scholarship application system.
SAAHJ scholarship applicants may begin registering on the San Antonio Area Foundation website in mid-October. Once they have created an account and logged in, they can fill out their scholarship application at their own pace and save their work until they are ready to submit it.
A panel of five media and public relations professionals will evaluate the applications. Winners will be featured at the annual SAAHJ gala
Questions about the online scholarship system can be directed to Anne Ferguson with the San Antonio Area Foundation at aferguson@saafdn.org or by calling (210) 225-2243.
Past Recipients
SAAHJ 2022 Scholarship Recipients
Students were awarded scholarships that totaled $40,000 to pursue their education.
| Abigail Velez | University of the Incarnate Word |
| Brian Yancelson | Trinity University |
| Cristela Jones | University of Texas at Austin |
| Gabrielle Yanez | University of the Incarnate Word |
| Marylynn Alvarado | University of Texas at Austin |
| Miranda Liguez | University of Texas at Austin |
| Olivia Hernandez | University of Texas at Austin |
| Raul Lopez | Texas A&M University-San Antonio |
| Roy Jimenez | University of North Texas |
| Sergio Medina* | Texas A&M University-San Antonio |
| Zoe Del Rosario | University of the Incarnate Word |
*Shea Serrano, a multiple New York Times-bestselling author and San Antonio native, funded a $5,000 scholarship for an outstanding Latino student. Sergio Medina was selected to receive this scholarship.
SAAHJ 2021 Scholarship Recipients
Students were awarded scholarships that totaled $35,000 to pursue their education.
| Antonio Bocanegra II | University of the Incarnate Word |
| Brian Yancelson | Trinity University |
| Roy Jimenez | University of North Texas |
| Autumn Kretzschmar | Cornell University |
| Victoria Velazquez | University of the Incarnate Word |
| Cristela Jones | Texas State University - San Marcos |
| Gabrielle Yanez | University of the Incarnate Word |
| Zoe Del Rosario | University of the Incarnate Word |
| Alisa Garza | Our Lady of the Lake University |
| Brianna Almaguer | University of Texas at San Antonio |
| Austin Martinez* | University of Texas at Austin |
*Shea Serrano, a multiple New York Times-bestselling author and San Antonio native, funded a $5,000 scholarship for an outstanding Latino student. Austin Martinez was selected to receive this scholarship.
SAAHJ 2020 Scholarship Recipients
Students were awarded scholarships that totaled $52,500 to pursue their education.
| Liandre De la Uso | Texas A&M-San Antonio |
| Karla Bello-Mondragon | University of the Incarnate Word |
| Brigid Cooley | Texas A&M-San Antonio |
| Samantha Ruvalcaba | St. Mary’s University |
| Austin Martinez | The University of Texas at Austin |
| Brian Yancelson | Trinity University |
| Molly Tilton | The University of Texas at Austin |
| Antonio Bocanegra II | University of the Incarnate Word |
| David Rojas | Texas A&M-San Antonio |
| Kailey Lopez | Trinity University |
| Noah Alcala Bach | University of Missouri |
| Melanie Salazar | Tarelton State University |
| Gabrielle Yanez | University of the Incarnate Word |
| Briana Caballero | University of the Incarnate Word |
| Cristela Jones | Texas State University |
SAAHJ 2019 Scholarship Recipients
Students were awarded scholarships that totaled $40,000 to pursue their education.
| Nicole Bautista | Texas State University |
| Samantha Esparza | Texas A&M University-San Antonio |
| Deandra Gonzalez | Texas State University |
| Annette Guerra-Armendariz | Texas A&M University-San Antonio |
| Cameron Jones | University of Texas at Austin |
| Cristela Jones | Texas State University |
| Kailey Lopez | Trinity University |
| Bethany Melendez | University of the Incarnate Word |
| Renee Muniz | University of the Incarnate Word |
| Oziel Trevino-Munoz | Texas A&M University-San Antonio |
| Christine Romero | Texas A&M University-San Antonio |
| Samantha Salazar | St. Mary's University |
| Armando Villarreal | Texas A&M University-San Antonio |
| Gabrielle Yanez | University of the Incarnate Word |