FAMU journalism major Aiyana Ishmael is among the top 10 winners in the college sports writing competition at the 60th annual William Randolph Hearst Foundation’s Journalism Awards Program.
She placed eighth with her story “Coaches’ Kids: Life Behind the Saturday Night Lights.”
The story, published in Journey Magazine, offers insights into what happens to families of professional and collegiate athletic coaches when they lose their jobs and their children are forced to start over in a new environment.
Earlier this month, she became a Knight Foundation Fellow at the 2020 Nicar Conference—one of four historically black college and university (HBCU) students selected by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to attend the event.
"She (not only) looks for ways to practice and improve the craft of journalism, but she is giving a voice to this up-and-coming generation of journalists—particularly African-American journalists," said Francine Huff, FAMU Knight Chair for Student Achievement and Advisor for Journey Magazine
Huff said.