Current California State University, Stanislaus student and former Signal staff member Kailey Fisicaro has been selected by the Chips Quinn Scholars program to be a part of a daily newspaper staff.
The Chips Quinn Scholars program offers a unique opportunity for college students to get a feel for a real-life journalism environment. Those chosen for the program are sent to attend a nine-day preparation period at the University of Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tennessee. The selected scholars are then sent to work with professional newspaper staffs across the country for a 10- to 12-week paid internship.
Fisicaro has been chosen to be sent to Bend, Oregon to serve on the staff of The Bulletin.
“I’m excited to get to be in a different environment,” Fisicaro said. “I was born in Oakdale, so I’ve always been a part of this area. It will be a nice change, especially being on a daily newspaper staff.”
An added bonus for Fisicaro in traveling to Bend is a family connection. Since she has relatives who live in Oregon, Fisicaro said it will be nice to have the chance to reconnect.
Ever since high school, Fisicaro has loved writing but never knew how to pursue it. Growing up as an avid news junkie, always picking up the latest copy of The Modesto Bee as well as other prints, journalism has always been her passion.
This passion led her to become a part of our very own Signal staff, where she found her calling as a writer, which developed into the Editor-in-Chief position. After her time with The Signal, Fisicaro remained active with the current staff – particularly with the new Signal advisor, Dr. Shannon Stevens.
When asked how she heard about this opportunity with Chips Quinn, Fisicaro directly mentioned The Signal’s newest supporter.
“Shannon Stevens— since she’s come to Stanislaus, she’s really been my mentor,” Fisicaro said. “And besides being a really good mentor, she’s become a good friend to me. Without her, I don’t know that I would have really pushed myself to go through with it.”
This nationally competitive program selects between 12 to 15 candidates each year. To say this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is easily an understatement. It’s also a shining example of what can come from hard work, dedication and passion.