Happy New Year! As Matrix Awards 2012 preparations are well under way and the Foundation scholarship application deadline draws near - we'd like to highlight one scholarship recipient's story. From backstage at the Matrix Awards to lifelong friendships and invaluable career advice, 2009 and 2010 scholarship recipient, Megan Hess shares her experiences: 

How did you first learn about the NYWICI Foundation scholarship program? In the summer of 2009, I interned at Seventeen, where former NYWICI Foundation board member and scholarship alumna Tammy Tibbetts extended the invitation to accompany her to the Ladies Who Laugh comedy show at NBC Studios. While I initially heard about the scholarship program through the career center at Syracuse University, where I completed my undergraduate studies, it wasn't until Ladies Who Laugh that I decided to apply.

What was it like to be awarded the scholarships and be a part of the Matrix Awards? The 2010 Matrix Awards is one of the most memorable days of my life (my mom, who also attended, felt the same way). The experience instantly connected a group of 19 girls - my fellow scholarship winners - from schools across the Northeast. The memory of sharing that special day together will never fade (who can forget when Tina Fey and Sheryl Crow showed up in the same dress?!) By honoring the movers and shakers of the communications industry, Matrix also filled me with aspiration and purpose. I mustered the courage to say "hi" to Susan Chira (now an assistant managing editor at The New York Times) behind the scenes at the Awards. Sometimes, you just have to go for it!

What is the most valuable takeaway from winning the scholarships? Relationships and authenticity are crucial; people need to trust you. Cast a wide net and don't rule anything out.

How did NYWICI and its members assist in your career search? At the advice of a NYWICI mentor, I created a "networking notebook" (as a spreadsheet) to track my contacts in the industry, from professors to magazine editors. I list their names, positions/workplaces, email addresses, how I know them, and whatever we last talked about. That way, when I follow up, I remember to ask about their vacation in Hawaii. 

NYWICI also taught me that "real" networking is about forming long-term relationships. Former NYWICI Foundation President Joan Cear, whom I met during my scholarship application process almost three years ago, is now one of my closest mentors.

What advice would you give to young women who are applying for the scholarship? At the Matrix Awards in 2010, Marissa Mayer, vice president of search products and user experience at Google, said that geeks are people who love something so much that all the details are interesting. Make sure that the passion for what you love most shines through in your scholarship application.

More about Megan Hess:
Wyckoff, New Jersey resident, Megan received her scholarships when she was in her second and third years at Syracuse University. A 2011 graduate, she was a Magazine Journalism and International Relations major and a Chinese Studies minor. Megan is now Digital Editor at Scholastic Parent & Child. Since winning the scholarship, Megan has become the Director of Event Marketing for NYWICI's Student Affairs committee. She also created and runs a career blog called No Joe Schmo (nojoeschmo.com), which receives about 6,000 unique visitors per month and has received recognition on the homepages of both BlogHer and Résumé Bear.

About New York Women in Communications Foundation
The New York Women in Communications Foundation, a public charity founded in 2000, exists to help a younger sisterhood successfully enter the world of communications with financial support, professional guidance and ongoing friendship.  An arm of New York Women in Communications, the Foundation awards scholarships and provides educational programs for women, whether just beginning or embarking on a transition in their careers. It is the largest foundation for communications scholarships for women in the tri-state area.

The 2012 Foundation Scholarship Application is currently available online at http://www.nywici.org/foundation/scholarships/intro. Completed applications are due January 27, 2012.