SAAHJ Scholarship & Awards Gala @ Grand Hyatt Hotel, 7-19

 Dear SAAHJ friend and supporter,

The San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists (SAAHJ) takes pride in recognizing those who leave a lasting mark and inspire change in our community. In the spirit of that mission, SAAHJ — the city’s largest and one of its longest-serving journalism organizations — is proud to announce its 15th annual scholarship and awards gala, taking place on Friday, July 19th, at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio, 600 E. Market St.

This year SAAHJ will award $25,000 in scholarships to a new generation of journalists and media professionals, bringing the group’s overall total of scholarships awarded to more than $175,000.

SAAHJ’s 2013 Community Service Awardwill be awarded posthumously to Karen Martinez, a KABB news co-anchor who died Feb. 18 after a three-year battle with breast cancer. Martinez raised public awareness of the disease and founded the Healing Hearts Gala, raising more than $100,000 in two years for the ThriveWell Cancer Foundation, which funds cancer research and provides patient support. She is remembered fondly by colleagues and many viewers who personally witnessed her courageous battle.

The prestigious Henry Guerra Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Journalism will be presented to two-time Emmy Award winner Monica Navarro, who for 30 years has served as a reporter and anchor for San Antonio's Univision 41. Well-known in the city for her expert coverage of healthcare issues and her devotion to community news, Navarro has been a trailblazer in journalism in the United States and Mexico, where she became its first female sportscaster in that country’s history.