Josh Jamerson, who participated in the Detroit Free Press High School Journalism program for three years and has worked at the Free Press for two consecutive summers, plans to attend Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. "I owe it to this program to become a very well-trained and successful journalist," he said. (Photo by PCG Campbell)

Ford Motor Co. Fund awards $24K journalism scholarship to Renaissance High student

DEARBORN, MI - Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, honored Detroit Renaissance High School student, Joshua Jamerson, with a $24,000 scholarship at the Ford Motor Company and Detroit Free Press Journalism Achievement Awards Banquet on Thursday, May 5, 2011.

Jamerson, who participated in the Detroit Free Press High School Journalism program for three years and has worked at the Free Press for two consecutive summers, plans to attend Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. "I owe it to this program to become a very well-trained and successful journalist," he said.

Erin Hill Perry, coordinator of the Free Press program, says she is extremely proud of Jamerson. “I’ve seen him grow leaps and bounds in terms of his writing and managerial skills with the journalism staff at Renaissance,” she says. “He’s chosen a great school in The Ohio University. He’ll learn everything he’ll need to break into professional journalism. And the Free Press will certainly be watching.”

About 200 people, including students from the 15 Detroit high schools which participate in the Free Press journalism program, attended the ceremony at Ford Motor Company World Headquarters in Dearborn.

Since 1987, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services has awarded an annual college scholarship to one Detroit high school senior to help the student pursue his/her aspirations in journalism. Each student who applies submits a letter of recommendation from a school teacher, their high school transcript, ACT and SAT scores, along with three to five samples of their work. Applicants also submit an essay of 300-500 words explaining why they would like to pursue a journalism degree and what they hope to contribute.

Past winners of the scholarship include former Fox 2 Detroit news anchor and current Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh (1989), Ford/Free Press High School Journalism Director Erin L. Hill Perry (2001), and Free Press sports agate editor Kirkland Crawford (2002).