Abigail Turner, a sophomore studying Journalism and Political Science at the American University School of Communication (AU SOC), has been named the 2023 AU SOC White House Correspondents’ Investigative Journalism scholarship winner.  

This student award includes a $5,000 scholarship, mentorship from a press corps member, an awards luncheon, and an invitation to the annual White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) gala dinner on April 29.   

Turner is the investigations and data editor for The Eagle, AU’s award-winning student newspaper. Her reporting often focuses on campus issues, including failed bargaining negotiations that led to a staff strike and why students protested campus safety following a criminal sexual assault investigation.  

Overall, scholarship judges were impressed by the quality of essays submitted by journalism students. Turner’s argument that “investigative journalism can be a source of community power” that builds trust in the media stood out.  

Turner hopes to work as a beat reporter in Washington, D.C., with her ultimate career goal to be a White House Correspondent. She is consistently on the Dean’s list and carries a 4.0 GPA. Her resume includes investigative reporter, student government beat reporter and staff writer at The Eagle, and an editorial intern at Current.  

This is the fifth year the School of Communication has been a part of the White House Correspondents’ Association Scholarship program. The WHCA started helping journalism students in 1991 and has awarded more than $1.5 million in scholarships.