Category: Scholarships
CAAP is excited to announce that the Jack G. & Bernice Shaheen Endowed Media Scholarship, housed at the Center for Arab American Philanthropy and in partnership with the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), has awarded six scholarships for the 2024. The fund supports juniors, seniors, and graduate students studying Journalism, Television, Radio, and/or Film, and who are committed to amplifying the voice and representation of Arab Americans through media.
Dina Amin:
Dina is an award-winning and multi-talented Palestinian filmmaker and vocalist who wants to tell inspiring stories on social and humanitarian issues. While studying in London (UK) for a BA degree in Filmmaking, Dina co-directed and co- produced her first short documentary, “Rise Up” screened in five international film festivals. Born in Jerusalem, Palestine. Dina became the co-founder of Space Collective, an art house working to build a stronger community in film and music.
Joelle Rumman
Joelle Rumman is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in the media. Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Critical Media and Cultural Studies at Rollins College, Joelle is dedicated to challenging stereotypes and promoting authentic representation of marginalized communities. With a background in marketing and radio broadcasting, Joelle Rumman has honed their skills in media production and community engagement. As the Marketing Director and Radio Host at WPRK 91.5 FM, she has utilized their creative talents to amplify diverse voices and spark meaningful conversations on pressing societal issues.
Mackenzie N George:
Raised in Great Falls, Montana, Mackenzie grew up with the backdrop of a tightly connected community with a strong local newspaper. She fell in love with storytelling early and held internships with the Great Falls Tribune and KFBB, a local TV news station. During her time at Columbia University, she served as sports editor of the Columbia Daily Spectator and conducted research in sociology and journalism. She graduated magna cum laude from Columbia with departmental honors in sociology. This fall, Mackenzie will return to Columbia as a master’s student at the journalism school.
Maram Elnagheeb:
Maram is an incoming M.S journalism with a documentary specialization candidate at Columbia Journalism School. She graduated from Duke University with a B.A in Social Policy and certificates in Cinematic Arts and Entrepreneurship. Ultimately, she is interested in storytelling, especially in long-form stories that allow her to investigate and delve into her curiosities. She is excited to enter a program and career that entails reporting, writing, and filming , as they give her the platform to explore and understand others’ experiences better. She is excited to continue her love for journalism at Columbia, as journalism fulfills her curious nature and allows her to explore and understand her interests at a deeper level.
Matthew Hamilton:
An Arab American college athlete studying Rhetoric, Film, and Screen Studies with a Psychology & Philosophy concentration at Bates College in Lewiston, ME. I am entering my senior year at Bates this fall. Outside of school, I am a digital media producer whose passion lies in telling the stories of people with intersecting identities. I use my camera to bring these people’s stories to life, and seeing the effects of my work this past year specifically has been a life-changing experience. Each story I tell inspires me further to stay on this journey, and because of being awarded this scholarship, I can now expand my influence and continue to introduce the lives of the intersectionally suppressed to the masses! Exposure to different world perspectives is how one gains a more holistic and refined point of view, so please reach out to those who have stories you have yet to hear. Share their hardships, congratulate their successes, and watch how your worldview changes for the better!
Meredith Frank
Meredith Frank is an aspiring Arab-American television producer passionate about enhancing representation in media. Growing up in Howell, Michigan, Meredith often felt like the only Middle Eastern kid at school, but once she began studying Television Production at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY, she realized that she could create the representation she wanted to see. Meredith’s minor in Mass Media Studies introduced her to Dr. Shaheen’s work, which influenced her own numerous papers on Arab-Americans in media. Meredith’s professional experience began as the lead producer of the New York Islanders Radio Network, where she did everything from technical operations and on-air reporting, to feature writing and live intermission updates. She now works as an associate producer at Bloomberg Radio, where she’s had the opportunity to work on broadcasts for the PGA Championship, Oakland Athletics, and Harvard Football. She also is a board operator for New York Mets Radio on WCBS 880. Meredith aspires to one day establish her own scholarship for Arab-American women in media.