From time management skills to lighter course loads, everyone has one thing that they wish they had to help them through college. For some, even paying for school can be the hardest part of pursuing higher education.
When reflecting on her four years at Temple University, Multimedia Journalist and General Assignment Reporter at 6abc Beccah Hendrickson, KLN ’16, knew that one thing that helped her immensely was funding for transportation to her internship with Meet the Press Daily in New York.
Hendrickson’s internship experience was made possible by a scholarship from the College of Liberal Arts since she was studying political science in addition to media studies and production. Now, she is establishing The Beccah Hendrickson Scholarship so Klein College of Media and Communication students can have the same support she did.
“My idea is [to] make interning where you want to intern more accessible by giving [students] that little extra to help them,” Hendrickson said.
Even though taking an internship closer to Philadelphia may be cheaper, many media studies and production students choose to go outside of the city to get experience in other markets. Hendrickson previously interned with NBC10 in Philadelphia during her sophomore year before heading to New York twice a week during her senior year.
In addition to the funding, there will be a mentorship aspect to the scholarship. Hendrickson intends to meet with the annual awardee to talk about goals for their experience before, during, and after their internship.
“I’ve been so blessed to have really great mentors in my life that I feel like I’m at a point where I can start doing that for the next generation,” Hendrickson said.
It isn’t often that a graduate as recent as Hendrickson establishes a scholarship at their alma mater.
“Beccah is making such a difference with her scholarship to help students during their internships, and to establish a fund at such a young age is equally as impressive as it is inspiring,” wrote Major Gifts Officer at Klein College Erin McGinn, TFM ’14.
Scholarship applications will begin to be accepted every February and it is open to any Klein College student.
Hendrickson is thankful for her time in college as it helped her see her own potential and she is excited to contribute to the journey of a Klein College student.
After graduating in 2016, Hendrickson took a job in her home market at WGAL in Lancaster before coming back to Philadelphia in 2019. After two and a half years as a community journalist, she was promoted to general assignment reporter in January 2022.
Hendrickson is proud to be amongst the crop of Temple alumni working in the Philadelphia media market and is excited to see the next generation join her.