For nearly 20 years as the White House correspondent and Washington bureau chief for the New York Post, Deborah Orin epitomized the very best in journalism. She brought to her craft the highest standards of excellence. Deborah Orin began covering New York politics in 1977, and a decade later moved to the nation’s capital where she reported on four U. S. presidents. She believed that the media needed a wider political perspective, that a diverse country needs a diverse press. When she died of cancer in 2007, she left behind many friends, her husband, Neville, and colleagues on the White House beat. The New York Post wrote: “readers will miss her honesty and wisdom.” Thanks to a gift, the WHCA has established the Deborah Orin Scholarship to benefit students at her alma mater. Two students will each receive a $5,000 scholarship, allowing them to pursue the craft Deborah Orin practiced every day. This scholarship will allow a new generation of journalists to strive for Deb’s very high standards. The recipients of this year’s Deborah Orin Scholarship are two current students from Medill School of Journalism.
Grace Eleyae is a video reporter for Medill Reports at Northwestern University. She holds a BA in Marketing and Communication Studies. Grace is a first generation American whose parents come from Kenya and Nigeria. She has a passion for international issues and travel. During her time at Medill she has researched and written about many topics including the 2014 midterm elections in Chicago, health, environmental and science issues, domestic violence and immigration
