Students Honored At White House Correspondent's Association Dinner
Courtney Subramanian (MSJ11), Alexandra Rice (MSJ11) and Haia Radwan (MSJ11) were each recognized as scholarship winners at the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Saturday, April 30.
Subramanian received a WHCA scholarship for graduate studies, while Rice and Radwan were honored as 2011 Deborah Orin Scholars.
“This was an unbelievable and inspiring opportunity,” Subramanian said. “The WHCA Scholarship illuminated my shared passion for journalism and was a great way to see that there are plenty of opportunities within reach.”
The three students mingled with renowned members of the media at a luncheon on Friday, April 29. They met the WHCA board members and listened to a panel discussion with Ann Compton of ABC News, Chuck Todd of NNC and Ben Feller of the Associated Press.
On Saturday, the three took part in a pre-dinner reception where they met several celebrities and were able to take pictures with President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama. They were honored individually at the dinner, where th
ey were treated to entertaining speeches from Northwestern University alumnus and Saturday Night Live star Seth Meyers, as well as from President Obama.
Obama delivered the news of Osama bin Laden’s death to the world roughly 24 hours later. With that in mind, Rice was particularly impressed with the President’s demeanor at the WHCA dinner.
“I thought the President seemed really relaxed and at ease during his speech and when we met him,” Rice said. “He didn’t seem distracted at all, and he was right on point in the delivery of his jokes.”
To see some of Subramanian’s pictures from the WHCA dinner, visit our Facebook page.