Scholarships
Seattle Foundation/Patricia Fisher Endowed Scholarship
Deadline: March 1, 2026
The Seattle Association of Black Journalists is proud to announce the 2021 Patricia Fisher Endowed Scholarship. We offer this scholarship to honor Patricia, her support of young people and her contributions to the community.
The scholarship program is open to Black students with a serious career interest in print, photo or broadcast journalism. Awards of at least $5,000 are made based on scholastic achievement, financial need, and commitment to journalism and to minorities. In addition to receiving the Patricia Fisher Endowed Scholarship, recipient(s) will also be matched with a mentor who is an SABJ member, and receive a free, two-year membership to the Seattle Association of Black Journalists. Applicants, please create an account here to apply for the Patricia Fisher Endowed Scholarship by March 1, 2026.
2025 Patricia Fisher Scholars
The Seattle Association of Black Journalists congratulates our 2023 Patricia Fisher scholars Vallon Bosango and Niles Blassingame.
Here are our winners, in their own words:
Vallon Bosango
I'm from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and I am currently pursuing my academic journey at Seattle University with a passion for blending journalism and technology to uncover truths, amplify marginalized voices, and inspire change. My vision is to merge investigative reporting with data-driven storytelling, artificial intelligence, and multimedia tools to create ethical and impactful journalism. I have served as an Associated Student Government Senator, Chapter President of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Math and French tutor, and Founder of the Math and Poetry Club at Bellevue College, where I dedicated over 100 volunteer hours to fostering inclusion, academic excellence, community service, creativity, and fellowship. I am committed to making journalism more inclusive, accurate, and transformative for communities everywhere.
Niles Blassingame
Niles Franklin Blassingame is a proud man of Morehouse from the Pacific Northwest, raised in Oregon and Washington. His family’s strong values in Black pride and education shaped who he is today. He was inspired by his mother and sister, both graduates of Grambling State University. Niles graduated Eastside Catholic School with a 3.9 GPA, overcoming personal challenges. As one of fewer than ten African American students in his class, he often felt overlooked, motivating his decision to attend Morehouse College where he would be celebrated. Now majoring in Journalism with a focus on sports, culture and social justice, Niles brings experience as a high school basketball player, football commentator, and sportswriter, with proficiency in ASL. He’s especially excited about Morehouse’s journalism program, developed with Spike Lee, which emphasizes visual storytelling, audience engagement, and advocacy through media. Niles is committed to amplifying underrepresented voices and honoring his family’s legacy.
About Patricia Fisher
Patricia Fisher was much more than an award-winning journalist. She brought new levels of sensitivity and perspective to the editorial pages of The Seattle Times and distinguished herself as a tireless, eloquent fighter in the areas of education and social justice.
A Tacoma native, Pat was a graduate of Clover Park High School whose strong ties to the Pacific Northwest led her to attend the University of Washington. She graduated in 1968 with a major in journalism and a minor in English. Her outstanding academic performance earned her a teaching position in the University of Washington English Department, where she taught from 1968-1975.
Pat’s acumen for teaching and love of young people blossomed as she became a positive, aggressive force throughout the area. That was especially true in neighborhoods, where there were too few role models and even fewer professionals willing to donate precious time and energy.
Her demanding academic and community responsibilities did not prevent Pat from exploring her love of journalism. Summers spent working at The Seattle Times became stints of part-time employment and ultimately a full-time position as a general assignment reporter in 1975.
Pat wrote for The Seattle Times business and features departments before accepting a position on the newspaper’s editorial board as the first woman and first African-American editorial writer and columnist. Increased regional visibility brought new demands, but she continued to volunteer her time, to encourage young people and to serve as a role model.
She was a founding member of the Black Journalists Association of Seattle (now known as the Seattle Association of Black Journalists), The Northwest Journalists of Color, and a former regional director for the National Association of Black Journalists. She was also an active member of The Links Inc. and Jack and Jill of America.
Pat was named 1986 Journalist of the Year by the Alliance for Children Youth and Families. She was honored by the Pacific Northwest Excellence in Journalism Competition for business reporting and column writing. She also received special recognition from the Women of Vision, Power and Potential for her leadership and her coverage of political strife in South Africa.
Pat’s travels to Africa had a profound effect on her life and shaped much of her commentary until multiple sclerosis forced her early retirement in 1989.
Patricia Fisher died on February 12, 2006 at age 59. Later that year she was inducted into the University of Washington School of Communications Hall of Fame.