An endowed scholarship at Duke University brings together an aspiring journalist at The Chronicle and the expansive global presence of Bloomberg News.
Currently in its fifth year, the Roger Madoff Scholarship awards a summer internship at Bloomberg News with competitive pay in New York, and a supplemental financial stipend of $2,500, to one student who has been an outstanding and active journalist for The Chronicle.
The scholarship was founded in the memory of Roger Madoff, a 1995 Duke graduate and Chronicle staffer. Roger, who later became a reporter at Bloomberg News, fought leukemia for three and a half years before dying in April 2006 at age 32.
“We are so happy to have created this opportunity for young journalists to follow the path he did, and in the process have brought together a cadre of exceptionally talented writers and remarkable individuals,” says Jennifer Madoff Dickson, a member of the selection committee and Roger’s widow.
Roger’s involvement in The Chronicle early in his college career sparked his passion for journalism. He covered a diverse array of topics, ranging from local tobacco to the symbolic meaning of facial hair as a tool of defiance on campus, and served as editor of Currents, the monthly magazine, during his senior year.
Following his graduation, Roger covered markets for Bloomberg in New York before moving to Milan to take the transportation industry beat. He then returned to New York to work for an electronic trading start-up.
Roger was diagnosed with leukemia in fall 2002. During his battle with the illness, he turned to writing to develop his strength, a sense of independence, productivity and pride. His memoir, Leukemia for Chickens (http://www.leukemiaforchickens.com/), chronicles his experiences during the two years after his diagnosis.
Lindsey Rupp, the 2011 Madoff Scholar and The Chronicle’s editor in 2010-11, notes that her summer experience with Bloomberg News was “transformational” for her as a journalist. She learned to cover economic and financial topics from some of the most dedicated reporters and editors in the industry.
“Last summer, the Madoff Scholarship made it possible for me to cover banks for Bloomberg News’ finance team,” Rupp said. “The scholarship helped me with housing in New York City, while I focused on my work.”
Caroline Fairchild, the 2012 Madoff Scholar and current local and national editor, adds that the scholarship further enhances The Chronicle’s ties to Bloomberg, in addition to giving recipients financial support.
“Unfortunately, the financial barrier inhibits a lot of graduating seniors who want to pursue their passion for journalism,” Fairchild says. “I am humbled to be given the opportunity to possibly join the growing string of Chronicle reporters who have gone on to work for Bloomberg.”
This story was reported by Yeswanth Kandimalla, the student employee of the Office of External Relations. Yeswanth was elected in February to become the editor of the 108th volume of The Chronicle.
