Fifty-four college students of color and recent graduates have been selected as Summer 2005 Chips Quinn Scholars by the Freedom Forum.

The Summer class brings to 953 the number of Scholars named to the internship program since it began in 1991.

The Chips Quinn Scholars experience includes a four-day orientation that began this week. During orientation, Scholars learn about newspaper journalism from experienced journalists and editors, including seven alums of the program.

Maria Montoya, a features reporter at The Times-Picayune in New Orleans, welcomed the group during an opening-night dinner at Freedom Forum headquarters in Arlington, Va. Montoya also will participate in a panel discussion about developing story ideas with alums Manny Lopez (1994 Scholar), editorial writer, The Detroit News, and Sue Stock (2000 Scholar), retail reporter, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C.

"I am always excited to be invited back to orientation," said Montoya, a 1999 Scholar. "A message from one orientation presenter that has stayed with me through the years: Being a part of the Chips Quinn program isn't just one Summer commitment, but a lifelong obligation to help those who come after us. It's not about a handout — it's about a hand-up."

Kristen Go, a 1996 and 1997 Scholar and assistant city editor at The Arizona Republic, will lead an orientation workshop for reporters on interviewing. She also will participate in a panel discussion about working in a newsroom with alums Rhina Guidos (1998 Scholar), assistant city/state editor, The News Journal, Wilmington, Del.; Seth Prince (1999 Scholar), copy editor, The Oregonian, Portland; and Tanika White (1994 Scholar), reporter, The Sun, Baltimore.

Immediate after orientation, Scholars report to host newspaper newsrooms to begin their paid internships. Forty-nine daily newspapers will host interns. Ten are participating for the first time: Abilene (Texas) Reporter-News; Daily Tribune, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.; Duluth (Minn.) News Tribune; Lancaster (Ohio) Eagle-Gazette; Public Opinion, Chambersburg, Pa.; The Herald-Mail, Hagerstown, Md.; The Olympian, Olympia, Wash.; The Orange County Register, Santa Ana, Calif.; The Times Herald-Record, Middletown, N.Y.; and Yakima (Wash.) Herald-Republic.

Scholars come from 44 college campuses. Eight campuses are first-time contributors to the program: Brown University, Georgia State University, Gonzaga University, Mesa Community College, Metropolitan State College of Denver, Ohlone College in California, Santa Barbara Community College and the University of Massachusetts.