Pictured from left to right:
Tatenda Mbudzi
He is a Fred Rogers Memorial Scholarship recipient in the area of Production. He is pursuing a Masters degree in the Producers program at UCLA. He will use his scholarship to research and develop a program based on a young girl from Zimbabwe who travels to distant worlds based on her grandmother’s stories.
Kelly Whitney
She is a Fred Rogers Memorial Scholarship recipient in the area of Research. Kelly is working on her EdD in Education at Harvard University. Kelly will use her scholarship to develop a categorization of digital toys and games graded along engagement potential.
Kelly Lake
She is a Fred Rogers Memorial Scholarship recipient in the area of Production. Kelly is currently pursuing her Masters in Cinema and Media Studies at UCLA. Kelly will use her scholarship to develop a web based animation application that advances spelling, vocabulary and social studies skills.
Alexandra Castro Klarén
She is a Fred Rogers Memorial Scholarship recipient in the area of Research. Alexandra is currently pursuing her PhD. in Communication at University of Pittsburgh. Alexandra will use her scholarship to research the relationship between children’s use of media and personal growth and create a digital media product that will document her research trajectory.
The four outstanding recipients were awarded $10,000 Fred Rogers Memorial Scholarships and recognized for their innovative ideas and remarkable dedication to the education and development of children through media. Additionally the Television Academy Foundation will assign a mentor from the Academy’s Children’s Programming Peer Group to each honoree, who will work with them throughout the academic year.
The Fred Rogers Memorial Scholarship is rooted in the values that “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” embodied. That groundbreaking daily program continues to be the gold standard of how television can enlighten, educate and increase social consciousness and understanding. It celebrates imagination and play, explores children's feelings and sense of self-worth, and treats young viewers with love and respect.
