Journalism senior Haeven Gibbons was awarded the Dolly and Paul Bolton Scholarship from the Headliners Foundation of Texas, a non-profit foundation that promotes excellence in journalism through annual prizes to professionals and scholarships to students.
She is one of 18 winners of 17 scholarships awarded by the foundation for the 2022-23 academic year. Awards range from $3,000 to $6,000.
“Haeven is one of the jewels of our program. I’m not surprised that she won,” said Uche Onyebadi, journalism department chair in the Bob Schieffer College of Communication.
Haeven started with student media during her first year at TCU, working on Image magazine, where she later served as editor. She has been a managing editor and is currently executive editor for TCU 360, the student-produced news website.
This summer, Haeven is interning in the Dallas Morning News’ Education Lab, writing on child care shortages and on school safety in the wake of the Uvalde shooting. She has interned at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, amNY and The Media Project. She spent fall 2021 in the McCandlish Phillips Journalism Institute’s NYC Semester in Journalism program.
Jean Marie Brown, associate professor of professional practice in journalism, has taught Haeven since her first year and watched her evolution as a journalist.
“A city editor once explained to me the key elements for a good reporter: talent and curiosity, of course made the list. But the most important thing, she said, was ‘fire in the belly.’
“Heaven Gibbons doesn’t just have a fire; she’s got an inferno. She is relentless. Her stories are remarkable for their depth and sensitivity. There is a humanity and dignity to Haeven’s writing that sets her work apart from her peers, as well as some professionals.
“Haeven isn’t going to be a leader of her generation. She already is.”