Cranston Teen Wins $60K Journalism, Broadcasting Scholarship

CRANSTON, RI — A student from Cranston won the Rhode Island PBS Scholarship, worth up to $60,000 for students pursuing a career in broadcasting, communications, or journalism.

Timothy Yean, a 2024 graduate of Cranston High School East, was selected from 27 applicants in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. Yean plans to major in communication at Rhode Island College.

"To have my efforts recognized to this extent would have been unimaginable to me four years ago, and it's still unimaginable to me," Yean said. "I'm so glad to have a lot of the usual financial burden of college covered by this scholarship, and I'm so happy to tell my mother and father that they don't have to worry too much anymore about the cost of college."

"We are so proud to be able to award this meaningful scholarship to Timothy," Rhode Island PBS Foundation co-CEO David Piccerelli said. "He has demonstrated excellence in his high school education, and he will be very successful in his career as a journalist. We are excited to play a role in this young man’s career."

Yean said he started considering a career in broadcasting in eighth grade after his algebra teacher praised him for a unique approach to a word problem.

"There was a homework assignment regarding a tortoise-and-the-hare type situation," Yean said. "With a heavy interest in sports, I decided to write the story in the style of a commentator describing the events of the race. My teacher highlighted mine as one of the best. I felt proud of my work and feel that this was the true start for my interest in sports broadcasting."

When he got to Cranston East, taking the "Writing for Sports Media" class taught by Thunderbolt Media Club advisor Ken Simone honed his interest in the subject.

"It was an insightful class, which I took to heart," Yean said. "I improved in all sectors of sports media, from on-air play-by-play to how to write a sports article. I still use what I learned to improve myself as a sportscaster and writer, even in articles or assignments unrelated to sports."

At Cranston East, Yean was student council president, the Thunderbolt Media Club’s primary play-by-play announcer for high school sports and gave sports updates two to three times a week over the school’s public address system as part of morning announcements. He also served as the public address announcer during some Rhode Island Interscholastic League playoff and championship games.

Despite his own accomplishments, Yean gives his parents Heang Chron and Sokha Yean a lot of the credit.

"They've worked tirelessly in all ways to ensure a good life not only for me but my sister, and I love them so much for all that and more," Yean said.

This is the seventh year Rhode Island PBS has awarded a scholarship through a $1 million scholarship fund created at the Rhode Island Foundation. Students can receive up to $15,000 a year for four years. The selection of each year’s recipient was made by a review committee coordinated by the Rhode Island Foundation.

"We are proud to have donors like Rhode Island PBS that value the importance of investing in the next generation," Rhode Island Foundation President David Cicilline said. "As these young people graduate from college, start their careers and contribute to the civic life of their communities, the impact of the scholarships will make a difference for decades."

Students had to submit an essay, a current academic transcript, a financial aid worksheet, proof of residency, and a letter of recommendation from a teacher or professional attesting to the applicant’s merit toward a successful career in broadcasting, communications, or journalism.

For more information about applying for a Rhode Island PBS Scholarship at the Rhode Island Foundation next year, visit rifoundation.org.

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