They number 26, and they are headed this summer to 22 news organizations from Boston to St. Louis to San Francisco. Most members of the 2010 Summer class of Chips Quinn Scholars are avid readers; some are foodies; and for a few, the beach is their hang-out of choice. All are passionate about journalism, with many having been hooked on the craft during high school. Read on to learn more about 13 Scholars in the Summer 2010 class. And stay tuned: the rest of the class will be introduced next week, on the eve of gathering in Nashville, Tenn., for orientation and multimedia training.

Lindsey Bomnin

Hometown: Miami, Fla.
College: Emory University
Host newspaper: Austin (Texas) American-Statesman
What I know about my host newspaper/media group:
The Austin American-Statesman is the dominant daily newspaper in Austin, Texas. The Statesman is a Cox Enterprises paper that competes with the Austin Chronicle, an alternative weekly publication. The paper features extensive coverage of the music scene; Austin is considered the live-music capital of the world.
How I got interested in journalism: My interest in journalism grew from an initial love of literature and creative writing. In high school, I deviated from my original plan of becoming a marine biologist and took a journalism class. I’ve been hooked ever since.
What I do for fun:
I’m a frequent beach-goer and a big fan of the Discovery Channel and repeated viewings of late-night TV movies. I like to read. I love dancing, jazz and freestyle, and listening to music, especially indie and alternative bands, and going to concerts.
Favorite Web sites:
Facebook, YouTube, Pandora, The Daily Puppy, LiveNation, stumbleupon

April Choi

Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
College: University of Missouri
Host newspaper: The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Va.
What I know about my host newspaper/media group:
The Virginian-Pilot broke the news of the Wright brothers’ first flight. They published a correction a century later. The newspaper no longer endorses U.S. presidential candidates.
How I got interested in journalism:
I was selected for The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer’s student journalism program in high school and have been writing ever since.
What I do for fun:
Read, bake, shop and go to plays and musicals
Favorite Web sites:
NYTimes, Twitter, Amazon, Etsy, Corporette

Kimberly Chua

Hometown: San Francisco, Calif.
College: San Francisco State University
Host newspaper: Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif.
What I know about my host newspaper:
The Contra Costa Times covers Contra Costa and Alameda counties in the eastern San Francisco Bay Area. The original company was founded in 1947; it is now part of ANG Newspapers’ Bay Area News Group–East Bay.
How I got interested in journalism:
I always liked to write, but when I joined my high school newspaper in my senior year on a whim, I discovered I loved talking to people and writing about their stories. I continued a string of internships in several types of media and realized that regardless of what form journalism takes, it’s something I want to be a part of.
What I do for fun:
Read, take photos, lounge around with friends, go to concerts and baseball games
Favorite Web sites:
Local/hyper-local news blogs, mlb, last.fm

Marie D. De Jesús

Hometown: Arecibo, Puerto Rico
College: Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in Puerto Rico
Host newspaper: Rochester (N.Y.) Democrat and Chronicle
What I know about my host newspaper:
The Democrat and Chronicle is a premier community-oriented publication that is turning the corner on new media, investing time and talent to find new platforms to deliver hyper-local news. The nationally recognized newspaper traces its history to the 19th century and is part of Gannett Company.
How I got interested in journalism:
As an English-language learner enrolled in community college, I sought to improve my speaking skills. The teacher of my speech class was also the newspaper advisor and she coached me into the newsroom. Her encouragement led me to write my first story – covering a disaster – and I became infected by the news bug. I later channeled my journalism instinct to photography.
What I do for fun:
I enjoy watching and dissecting movies, reading fiction, visiting art exhibits and walking my basset hound. I love going out with friends and eating vegetarian food. The beach is my refuge. I love journalism and all the new gadgetry that comes with new media.
Favorite Web sites:
Nytimes, Mediastorm, orlandosentinel, AP.org, CNN

Shannon Epps

Hometown: Smithfield, Va.
College: Hampton University
Host newspaper: The Washington Post
What I know about my host newspaper/media group:
The Washington Post is considered one of the top daily newspapers in the country, and it takes full advantage of its location in the nation’s capital by doing top-notch political reporting. The paper won Pulitzer Prizes in April 2010 for international reporting, feature writing, commentary and criticism.
How I got interested in journalism:
I’ve always enjoyed writing and took a couple of journalism courses in high school. After realizing that my initial college major, pharmacy, was not the route I wanted to take, I gave journalism a shot. I’m glad I did.
What I do for fun:
I enjoy reading novels, going out to dinner and watching movies in theaters and at home. I also enjoy game nights with friends.
Favorite Web sites:
Google, CNN, Facebook

Phillip Lucas

Hometown: Seattle, Wash.
College: Howard University
Host newspaper: The Washington Post
What I know about my host newspaper/media group:
The Washington Post this year won four Pulitzer Prizes – for international reporting, feature writing, commentary and criticism. The paper also was a 2010 Pulitzer finalist for breaking news coverage.
How I got interested in journalism:
I got interested in journalism during my sophomore year in high school when I wrote for The Franklin Tolo, my school newspaper. I began an internship at the South Seattle Star the same semester and decided that a career in journalism was the right path for me.
What I do for fun:
I like trying new restaurants, making new foods, exploring Washington, D.C., and hanging out with friends.
Favorite Web sites:
Google, YouTube, hulu, statravel, universalsports

Taryn Luna

Hometown: Dixon, Calif.
College: Oregon State University
Host newspaper: The Dallas Morning News
What I know about my host newspaper/media group:
The Dallas Morning News formed in 1885 as a satellite edition of The Daily News in Galveston, Texas, which started in 1842. Today, The Dallas Morning News is the major daily newspaper serving the Dallas-Forth Worth area. The paper is published by A.H. Belo, which is the oldest company in the state.
How I got interested in journalism:
I knew I loved to write but struggled to find my niche at Oregon State University. I took a reporting course during my sophomore year and the professor truly inspired me to want to write stories that change people’s lives.
What I do for fun:
I like to use my rare opportunities for free time to relax. I go on walks and play ball with my 3-year-old beagle, the Ace of Spades. I’m also a wine enthusiast and enjoy pairing a well-crafted glass of red or white with a scrumptious home-cooked meal.
Favorite Web sites:
Nytimes, dallasnews, oregonlive, sacbee, dailybarometer, oregonstate.edu, and I spend countless hours using the AP News application for iPhone.

Ileana Morales

Hometown: Miami, Fla.
College: University of Florida
Host newspaper: The Associated Press-Washington, D.C.
What I know about my host media group:
The AP is the world’s oldest and largest news organization, and more than half of the world’s people get information from the AP every day.
How I got interested in journalism:
I signed up for a high school journalism class and quickly fell in love. I was 15 and realized that my love for reading, coupled with a penchant for asking questions, could lead to a job. Also, my high school adviser’s support was tremendous.
What I do for fun:
Cook, read, travel, go to the beach, people-watch
Favorite Web sites:
Nytimes, Tampabay, SmittenKitchen, NewYorker, Grooveshark

Madoree Pipkins

Hometown: Temecula, Calif.
College: Benedict College
Host newspaper: The Philadelphia Daily News
What I know about my host newspaper:
The Philadelphia Daily News began publishing in 1925. Since then, the paper has won the Pulitzer Prize three times. Philadelphia Media Holdings currently owns the paper, along with the city’s other major newspaper, The Philadelphia Inquirer.
How I got interested in journalism:
Growing up I wasn’t much into Barbie dolls. Instead, I played news reporter. Journalism became my shadow and it followed me throughout high school and college.
What I do for fun:
I enjoy scrapbooking, making mini movies, retail therapy and spending time with family and friends.
Favorite Web sites:
CNN, Facebook, NYTimes, WashingtonPost

Amanda Portillo

Hometown: Phoenix, Ariz.
College: University of Arizona
Host newspaper: The Orange County Register, Santa Ana, Calif.
What I know about my host newspaper:
Published since 1905 as The Santa Ana Register, The Orange County Register is a three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper and part of Orange County Communications, Inc., which publishes community newspapers, magazines and Web sites, all serving the Orange County area.
How I got interested in journalism:
I took my first journalism class in community college and enjoyed it so much that I continued with it at the University of Arizona. Telling other people’s stories is a great way to learn about the community you live in.
What I do for fun:
Spend time with family and friends, read, take kick boxing and spinning classes, bake and try to cook
Favorite Web sites:
Facebook, Yahoo, NYTimes, foodgawker, hulu, azcentral

Wesley Robinson

Hometown: Louisville, Ky.
College: University of Kentucky
Host newspaper: The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ky.
What I know about my host newspaper:
The Courier-Journal is a Gannett newspaper and the largest newspaper in Kentucky, along with being one of the 50 largest newspapers nationwide.
How I got interested in journalism:
I grew up reading the Tacoma News Tribune avidly and I’ve always had a love for sports, so I started writing news and editorials.
What I do for fun:
I listen to music, watch sports, play sports and surf the net.
Favorite Web sites:
nahright, cbssports, ussmariner, YouTube, Facebook

Kelly Truong

Hometown: Sunnyvale, Calif.
College: Wellesley College
Host newspaper: The Chronicle of Higher Education, Washington, D.C.
What I know about my host media group:
The Chronicle of Higher Education is the leading source of news for the academic world, publishing weekly in print and weekdays on online.
How I got interested in journalism:
I always wonder about the stories behind people and situations I see. As a journalist, I get to find out.
What I do for fun:
I travel, read, write, go to concerts and spend all my money on food.
Favorite Web sites: sfgate, nytimes, bbc.co.uk

Jamila T. Williams

Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
College: Ohio State University
Host newspaper: The Morning Journal, Lorain, Ohio
What I know about my host newspaper/media group:
The Morning Journal is owned by the Journal Register Company, which is looking to transform the organization from a newspaper company into a new media company.
How I got interested in journalism:
I’ve always enjoyed writing and originally thought I wanted to be a book author. But I soon learned that I didn’t have the patience or discipline to sit still and compose an entire novel. That’s when I learned newspaper articles were much shorter and just as fun. Who knows? I still may write that book one day.
What I do for fun:
I occasionally play video games and can play against the best of them. I also enjoy shopping, hanging out with friends and family, cooking from time to time and of course reading. The best story ideas come from reading.
Favorite Web sites:
cnn, morningjournal, flypapernews, cincinnati, bossip

(Part II to follow next week)