OSWEGO, NY – President of the Professional Journalists and Communicators of Oswego County Michele Reed has announced that Mary Caroline Losurdo and Chad R. Cook were recipients of the PJC’s Muriel Allerton Scholarship Award.
The award is given annually to a graduating high school student who has demonstrated a high level of interest, aptitude and proficiency in their chosen field of study during his or her high school career.
Past award recipients have included students who chose careers in print or broadcast journalism, public relations, advertising or graphic design.
While the award was given to one student in the past, this year the PJC chose two students.
“We had so many qualified candidates this year that we felt is was appropriate that we chose two winners. Chairperson Kelly Jordal and her committee did an excellent job in selecting two well-deserving candidates,†said Reed.
Losurdo, a graduate of Oswego High School, will be attending SUNY Oswego in the fall as a creative writing major.
She was a staff reporter and senior writer for the Buccaneer Bulletin and attended the School Press Institute at Syracuse University (2008) as well as the National Youth Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. (2009).
She also participated in many activities including the Oswego Children’s Theatre, the OHS Orchestra and is a co-founder of SaaF, an animal welfare organization at OHS.
She plans to pursue a writing career, possibly in journalism.
Cook, a graduate of John C. Birdlebough High School in Phoenix, also plans to attend SUNY Oswego in the fall to major in creative writing.
He is a co-founder of the school’s Media Club and worked as a writer and anchor for JCB News.
A well-rounded student, Cook served on the Principal’s Cabinet and participated in the JCB Drama Club, the Phoenix Firebird Symphonic Band and the Phoenix Firebird Marching Band.
He was also part of his class cabinet, the student leadership team and won the Presidential Volunteer Service Award (2009).
He would like to pursue a career in media arts, possibly broadcasting, film or journalism.
“Mary Caroline and Chad both submitted outstanding applications that stood apart from the group. They were clear about their goals and plans, and included samples from their portfolios that demonstrated strong communications skills. The fact that both students are attending SUNY Oswego was not a deciding factor, but a happy coincidence,†said Jordal.
