Amanda DeJesus, news editor of the Setonian, was named a White House Correspondents' Association Scholar. The announcement was made during the White House Correspondents' Dinner, famed for its roasting of the press and politicians – including the President of the United States, who was in attendance this year.

Broadcast by CNN and CSPAN, the announcement of the 2022 scholarship recipients was made by Yamiche Alcindor, an NBC News Washington correspondent and host of PBS' "Washington Week."

Alcindor introduced the scholars, saying that each year the White House Correspondents' Association funds scholarships for "promising young people in partnership with participating colleges, universities and organizations." She thanked the Association for "allowing me to connect with the next generation of young journalists who are really blazing a path ahead."

In addition to scholarship monies, Alcinder noted that, "the White House Correspondents' Association program also pairs scholars with real working White House journalists as mentors."

DeJesus, who is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists has been paired with Anthony Zurcher, the senior North American Correspondent for BBC.

The White House Correspondents' Association scholarship winners for 2022 hail from 15 colleges and universities around the country, with the organization, according to its website, utilizing for funding $131,500 from its reserves and leveraging nearly $50,000 this year in other aid as well.

In its "Salute" to its 2022 Scholarship Winners, the White House Correspondents' Association features DeJesus along with its other scholars:

Amanda DeJesus, a journalism and political science double major from New York City, is a junior at Seton Hall University. A former intern at Staten Island Advance, she is currently the news editor of her college newspaper and a DJ at Seton Hall’s radio station. Amanda plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career in journalism covering politics and social justice issues.

Journalism Professor Matthew Pressman said, "Amanda is highly deserving of this honor. Her dedication and talent come through clearly both in her coursework and in her contributions to Seton Hall's student media. She understands the power of journalism to effect positive change and is committed to living up to the profession's highest ideals."

In his speech, President Biden noted that "the free press matters more than they ever had in the last century," and saying that he "always believed that good journalism holds up a mirror to ourselves, reflecting the good, the bad and the true. Tonight, I want to congratulate the awardees and the scholarship recipients who carry on that sacred tradition."

In addition to being invited and featured at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, DeJesus was given the opportunity to attend a press briefing with White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to be a White House Correspondents' Association scholarship recipient as well as be invited to the White House Correspondents' Dinner," said DeJesus. "The White House press briefing and Correspondents' Dinner were experiences that I will never forget."

The scholarship presentations may be viewed courtesy of CSPAN at 19:56 in the broadcast of the dinner and award ceremony.

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