National Press Club Announces Scholarship Winners

WASHINGTON, June 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Press Club
announces that Armando Montano of Colorado Springs, Colorado, is this year's
winner of the club's Ellen Masin Persina Scholarship for Diversity in
Journalism and Elijah Mercer of Newark, New Jersey, is the first-ever
recipient of the new Richard G. Zimmerman Scholarship.

Montano will receive $20,000 over four years for college. He immediately stood
out to the judges for a column published in The Denver Post's Colorado Voices
section, headlined "Journalism's principles are still strong." In the column,
Montano defends his decision to be a journalist in this day and age. "There's
much to be optimistic about the future of journalism," Montano wrote,
"especially the chance that there will be room for a hopeful high school
student in the ever-changing world of reporting."

In his impressive scholarship essay, Montano writes about the influence of his
parents. His father is a U.S. born, Mexican-American anthropology professor
who taught him to observe and listen to people carefully and "to try to
understand them without judging them."

Though he says he understands that the newspaper world is tough these days, he
feels his approach would give depth to a newsroom. "My interest in different
cultures -- along with my integrity, dedication and persistence -- will always
travel with me, like a notepad and tape recorder," he says.

Mercer, who will receive $5,000, attends an inner-city school in Newark where
he is valedictorian and editor of the school newspaper. He has also been
active in a school program that helps students improve public speaking,
communication and leadership skills.

Mercer's recommendations from teachers and school staff were outstanding. "He
stands tall among his peers and will surely work to make this world a better
place," said one teacher. "I have written many letters of recommendation in
over 30 years as an educator, but I have never been as sure of a student as I
am of Elijah."

The Ellen Masin Persina Scholarship for Diversity in Journalism provides
$5,000 a year over four years. Established in the memory of the late Ellen
Masin Persina, a Press Club member, the scholarship is awarded annually to
outstanding high school students who are considering a career in journalism
and can exhibit how they will bring diversity to newsrooms. Funding is
provided by the Persina family and the National Press Club, which conducts an
annual 5K and silent auction to benefit the scholarship fund.

The Richard G. Zimmerman Scholarship is named after a longtime National Press
Club member who died January 2008 and endowed a significant scholarship in aid
of high school seniors who wish to pursue a career in journalism. Recipients
receive a non-renewal award of $5,000.

SOURCE National Press Club

Mary Clare Jalonick, +1-202-997-9498, or Joann Booze, +1-202-662-7532, both of
the National Press Club