The National Association of Hispanic Journalists has awarded U of A seniors Larissa Lucas and Rachell Sanchez-Smith full-paid scholarships to attend the 40th annual NAHJ Conference and Expo in Hollywood, California, July 9-13. Both Lucas and Sanchez-Smith are students in the School of Journalism and Strategic Media and members of the newly formed NAHJ UARK Student Chapter, a registered student organization focused on education and service.

Sanchez-Smith, a journalism and political science major, was named to the 12-member Student Project Team. Lucas, an advertising and public relations major, is one 15 Rubén Salazar Financial and Conference Trip awardees. Entries were received from across the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Sanchez-Smith will collaborate with journalism students from Arizona State University, University of Missouri-Columbia, George Washington, Georgetown, Rice, Stanford, USC-Annenberg, UNC Chapel Hill, Universidad de Puerto Rico and more.

"These programs represent NAHJ's ongoing commitment to fostering diversity in journalism and empowering the next generation of Hispanic journalists," according to an association statement. "These initiatives highlight NAHJ's mission to increase diversity in newsrooms and improve the quality of news coverage of Latino communities."

Sanchez-Smith will have a full-expense-paid fellowship to work in a fully operational newsroom to cover NAHJ's annual convention and local stories in Los Angeles beginning July 8. The National Association of Hispanic Journalists was the first diverse journalism organization to create a convention newsroom training opportunity for students. Many journalists, leaders and educators got their start through the NAHJ Student Project, an initiative that highlights the non-profit's mission to increase diversity in newsrooms and improve the quality of news coverage of Latino communities.

Lucas' award, established in 1986, is named in memory of Rubén Salazar, a columnist for the Los Angeles Times and news director of Spanish-language television station KMEX. Salazar was killed in 1970 while covering the Chicano Anti-Vietnam War Moratorium in East Los Angeles by a tear gas projectile fired by a deputy sheriff. Lucas receives a fully-paid, sponsored trip. She'll have access to training for young journalism professionals, resume and work sample critiques and networking and recruiting opportunities.

"NAHJ has recognized what the School of Journalism and Strategic Media has known for a long time: Larissa Lucas and Rachell Sanchez-Smith are two talented and hard-working journalists set to embark on incredible careers," SJSM Chair Bret Schulte said. "The School of Journalism and Strategic Media celebrates the work of NAHJ in advancing journalists of color and prioritizing the issues relevant to their communities. I congratulate both our students on this incredible honor, and I'm grateful to their mentor, professor Ninette Sosa, for her tireless advocacy on behalf of students of color."

This year, National Association of Hispanic Journalists awarded 39 scholarships, and more than $2 million in scholarships has been distributed since the late 1980s. For more information about Initiatives for Emerging Journalists, a full list of NAHJ scholarship winners and other NAHJ programs, visit its website.