Sydney, 2006 — Photo by Bridget

“The more of the world I see, the better I am as a journalist. … And the more I work as a journalist, the more analytically I view the world as I travel.”

— Bridget O’Brien (1981-2007)

“Over and Back” Finalists in Assoicated Collegiate Press award

September 1, 2011

Congratulations to Matt Stevens and Maya Sugarman, 2010 Bridget O’Brien Scholarship recipients, for being named national finalists in the 2011 Associated Collegiate Press Multimedia Story of the Year.  Fellow Daily Bruin staffed Millie Tran was nominated with Matt and Maya for her contributions to the online publication website.

Matt was also named a finalist for the 2011 ACP Report of the Year and Maya was selected as a finalist in several photo categories.

Winners will be announced for the first time at the 90th Annual ACP/CMA National College Media Convention in Orlando on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011.  Best of luck to the 2010 scholarship recipients.

The “Over and Back” series chronicled the hopes and struggles of young basketball players in Cameroon, where two former UCLA star players began their basketball careers.  Matt and Maya spent 31 days in Cameroon reporting on the story last summer.  Earlier this year the series won first-place in the Society of Professional Journalists national award for in-depth reporting.

The Cameroon trip was the fourth journalism project funded by the Bridget O’Brien Scholarship Foundation. Previous recipients have traveled to Peru (to explore UCLA’s archaeological research in the country), China (to investigate the influence of UCLA merchandise on garment factories and retail stores) and Thailand (to assess the effects of UCLA researchers’ work on HIV/AIDS in the country’s red light districts). Another team of student journalists traveled to Vietnam this summer and will publish their work this fall.

None of this would be possible without the generous support of our donors. As always, we appreciate your donations to the foundation.

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Applications are due Friday, February 3

Each school year, eligible students may submit a project proposal to the scholarship selection committee. Recipients will be granted the funding and resources to complete their project within the academic year. Learn more about the application process »

About the Foundation

This foundation was created in memory of Bridget O’Brien, a talented young photojournalist who dedicated her life to storytelling. While at UCLA, her work represented student journalism at its very best — ambitious, enlightening, captivating. After graduation, she pursued her passion across the globe until her death in 2007. She will always be a reminder that we can change the world through a little bit of adventure and a whole lot of honesty.