Scholarships
Seattle Foundation/Patricia Fisher Endowed Scholarship
Deadline: May 1, 2024
The Seattle Association of Black Journalists is proud to announce the 2021 Patricia Fisher Endowed Scholarship. We offer this scholarship to honor Patricia, her support of young people and her contributions to the community.
The scholarship program is open to Black students with a serious career interest in print, photo or broadcast journalism. Awards of up to $3,500 are made based on scholastic achievement, financial need, and commitment to journalism and to minorities. In addition to receiving the Patricia Fisher Endowed Scholarship, recipient(s) will also be matched with a mentor who is an SABJ member, and receive a free, two-year membership to the Seattle Association of Black Journalists. Applicants, please create an account here to apply through Scholarship America for the Patricia Fisher Endowed Scholarship by May 1, 2024.
2023 Patricia Fisher Scholars
The Seattle Association of Black Journalists congratulates our 2023 Patricia Fisher scholars Karissa Braxton and Jadrianne Robinson.
Here are our winners, in their own words:
Karissa Braxton
Thank You all for awarding me the Patricia Fisher Endowed Scholarship. Your generous investment provides the financial resources necessary to continue my journey in earning my Masters in Public Administration from the University of Washington Evans School.
I am a public servant, storyteller, and mission and purpose-driven woman, who is dedicated to making a positive change in this world through systemic and cultural transformation. Since graduating from Howard University in 2014, and returning to Seattle, I have journeyed a public service career that has allowed me to work at the intersections of human services and economic development, strategic communications and media relations, campaign management and political advocacy, community organizing, and executive leadership.
In ancient Greek culture, Kairos time was understood as a right, critical or opportune moment. Unlike Chronos time — which describes the chronological progression of time — Kairos describes moments where something special, significant, or transformational happens. For me, 2020 was the start of my personal Kairos season, where my lived and professional experiences led me to pursue the Master of Public Administration, with a concentration in Social Policy. I made the decision to go back to school to enhance my ability to be an agent of the transformational changes that are needed locally and nationally.
Jadrianne Robinson
As a SABJ scholarship recipient, I am honored to have received a scholarship that will support the advance of my studies and the opportunity to partner with knowledgeable mentors who share my passion for journalism. As I begin my spring semester at the University of Southern California, I am enthusiastic about pursuing my research on the injustices plaguing Black communities such as mass incarceration. I plan to share my findings with my school community and work to bridge the economic and accessibility gap. As I embark on my university journey, I'm incredibly grateful that I have support from the SABJ community, and couldn't thank them enough for their generosity.
About Patricia Fisher
Patricia Fisher was much more than an award-winning journalist. She brought new levels of sensitivity and perspective to the editorial pages of The Seattle Times and distinguished herself as a tireless, eloquent fighter in the areas of education and social justice.
A Tacoma native, Pat was a graduate of Clover Park High School whose strong ties to the Pacific Northwest led her to attend the University of Washington. She graduated in 1968 with a major in journalism and a minor in English. Her outstanding academic performance earned her a teaching position in the University of Washington English Department, where she taught from 1968-1975.
Pat’s acumen for teaching and love of young people blossomed as she became a positive, aggressive force throughout the area. That was especially true in neighborhoods, where there were too few role models and even fewer professionals willing to donate precious time and energy.
Her demanding academic and community responsibilities did not prevent Pat from exploring her love of journalism. Summers spent working at The Seattle Times became stints of part-time employment and ultimately a full-time position as a general assignment reporter in 1975.
Pat wrote for The Seattle Times business and features departments before accepting a position on the newspaper’s editorial board as the first woman and first African-American editorial writer and columnist. Increased regional visibility brought new demands, but she continued to volunteer her time, to encourage young people and to serve as a role model.
She was a founding member of the Black Journalists Association of Seattle (now known as the Seattle Association of Black Journalists), The Northwest Journalists of Color, and a former regional director for the National Association of Black Journalists. She was also an active member of The Links Inc. and Jack and Jill of America.
Pat was named 1986 Journalist of the Year by the Alliance for Children Youth and Families. She was honored by the Pacific Northwest Excellence in Journalism Competition for business reporting and column writing. She also received special recognition from the Women of Vision, Power and Potential for her leadership and her coverage of political strife in South Africa.
Pat’s travels to Africa had a profound effect on her life and shaped much of her commentary until multiple sclerosis forced her early retirement in 1989.
Patricia Fisher died on February 12, 2006 at age 59. Later that year she was inducted into the University of Washington School of Communications Hall of Fame.