The Doris Dungey Endowed Scholarship is helping journalism major Maritza Navar-Lopez pursue her dream. The scholarship is awarded to a journalism, mass media, or production student who has exhibited academic achievement and work experience, volunteer experience, or extracurricular involvement.
“My mother worked her entire life to ensure I would be able to pursue a higher education in the U.S. after she migrated from Mexico,” said Maritza Navar-Lopez. “To receive this scholarship means so much to both of us.”
Navar-Lopez strives to cover social justice issues and other topics related to sparking change while aspiring to give a voice to those affected by decision-makers. In the future, she hopes to work for a larger network, such as NPR.
Navar-Lopez is honing skills in reporting, broadcasting and writing while contributing to the campus radio station, WZND. The work has led to additional opportunities and allowed her to step up as a leader in journalism. She has also completed television broadcast courses and has experience with TV-10.
As a reporter, Navar-Lopez has experienced a range of assignments, from covering local concerts to reporting on the pandemic and presidential debate watch parties. Her current focus is on becoming a producer and anchor.
“As a producer and anchor, I work with the news director and co-anchors to write the half-hour shows while helping the reporters with their stories as well,” she said. “While I always wanted to pursue a career in journalism, my high school did not provide any opportunities aimed at this subject. When I arrived at ISU, I wanted to ensure I took advantage of every opportunity I could.”
Navar-Lopez has done just that with financial assistance from the Doris Dungey Endowed Scholarship. “This scholarship not only means a lot to me as a student, but assures my mother my work at the University is being recognized,” she said.
