FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 25, 2024

Highlights Foundation Awards Scholarships to 115 Storytellers Who Write and Illustrate for Kids

Honesdale, PA – The Highlights Foundation has awarded a record 115 scholarships to aspiring and established children’s authors and illustrators for use in 2024.

Scholarships include full tuition for in-person working and community retreats, personal retreats, and online courses at the Highlights Foundation, and are made possible through generous donations from Highlights Foundation supporters and partner organizations who believe in the organization’s mission: to positively impact children by amplifying the voices of storytellers who inform, educate, and inspire children to become their best selves.  Recipients and awards are included below.

The Highlights Foundation scholarship program was instituted nearly 40 years ago, around the time the organization was founded.  Its scope has increased, but it has always represented a living commitment to invest in storytellers to facilitate a long-term positive impact on the world by inspiring kids through story.

“The ‘Highlights Way’ is grounded in the belief that children are the world’s most important people,” says George Brown, Executive Director of the Highlights Foundation.  “Our organization’s mission and everything we do comes from adherence to that belief, and our action lies in our unwavering dedication to nurture and support the storytellers whose books make a difference in kids’ lives.”

This year’s scholarship recipients strongly demonstrated these values in their applications, as well.

“My mission is to inspire, entertain, and educate children.  I grew up loving books and stories, and hope to pass this love to future generations. Books teach us many things, [but] most importantly, [they teach us] empathy. I hope my stories and books become building blocks to a more compassionate world,” said Sandhya Acharya, a picture book author who plans to use her scholarship to work on a middle grade novel in verse.

Jackie Morera, a 2024 debut picture book author who will use her scholarship to continue on the path of finishing her second novel, shared a similar drive to create: “I am most passionate about telling stories about characters who look, sound, and love like the people who filled my world—but not my books—growing up.”

Cathryn Brenner is a semi-retired elementary school teacher who will use her scholarship to continue work on several nonfiction picture book manuscripts.  She says: “I am drawn to stories that connect kids (and the adults who read to them) to the world, pique their curiosity, and empower them to be knowledgeable decision makers. That’s the writer I strive to be.”

Karuna Riazi echoed a similar sentiment.  She’ll use her scholarship to revise a middle grade novel, and brainstorm a new project.  She says, “Being able to welcome readers into my stories; to encourage them to use my narratives as safe patches to grow in and bloom into their own potential, is something that has been important to me since my debut, and that I continue to strive toward.”

To contribute to the Highlights Foundation Scholarship program, donate online at https://www.highlightsfoundation.org/donate-online/.

Scholarships awarded include:

Latinx Storyteller Scholarship

Steve Light Scholarship

Jack Myers Scholarship

Pacific Islander Storyteller Scholarship

PJ Library Scholarships

Poesía Scholarship for Latinx Poets

SCBWI Impact Fund Scholarship

Send a Teacher to Summer Camp Scholarship

Stanton Picture Book Scholarship

Christine & Kenneth Taylor-Butler Scholarship

TBTG Foundation Scholarship

The Brown Bookshelf Scholarship

The Palestinian Writers and Illustrators Scholarship

Trans Women Write Scholarship

Transgender and Nonbinary Scholarship for Picture Book Storytellers

Renée Watson Scholarship

Jerome Weisman Scholarship

Wheeler Whole Novel Workshop 50+ Award

Whole Novel Scholarship for Jewish Writers

Debra Winegarten Scholarship

Kay Yoder Scholarship for History Writers

Jane Yolen & Heidi EY Stemple Scholarship

In 2024, in-community retreat scholarships were supported via a grant from Hawthornden Foundation.  Additional scholarships were also provided through a grant from the Doris Duke Foundation (DDF). Through the Building Bridges Program, DDF supports national efforts, working with U.S. Muslims, to increase mutual understanding and well-being among diverse populations for the benefit of building stronger, inclusive communities.

For a full list of the scholarships and their sponsors, visit https://www.highlightsfoundation.org/scholarships/.

Recipients include:

Cindy Montenegro

Jackie Morera

Janna Morton

Darcie Naslund

Cam Anh Nguyen

Michelle Orrelle

Violet Phelps

Julian Plum

Kathryn Powell

Casey W. Robinson

Doreen Klein Robinson

Yasmin Rodino

Naima Russell

Laila Sabreen

Liz Schwartz

Varsha Seshan

Celia Watson Seupel

Sylvie Juliet Shaffer

Tabassam Shah

Brinda Shah

Nadine Shatzkes

Tonya L. Shenandoah (Oneida)

Kayla Stark

Lisa Stringfellow

Gaby Taboas

Joy Netanya Thompson

Lisa Trank

Megan Troup

Karuna Riazi

Alyssa Vandegrift

Pradeep Velugubantla

Paul Vinelli

Arriel Vinson

Raven Warner

Ash Wilda

Diana Willett

Anita Yasuda

CONTACTS:

George Brown, Executive Director, Highlights Foundation

(George.Brown@highlightsfoundation.org)