Last modified: Monday, June 24, 2013
Homestead graduate wins four-year journalism scholarship at IU Bloomington
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2013
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Danielle Castonzo, a 2013 graduate of Homestead Senior High School in Fort Wayne, Ind., is the recipient of the Indiana University School of Journalism's Justin M. Druck Scholarship.
The scholarship provides $10,000 a year for four years to an incoming freshman from Cass County or a surrounding county. It is named in honor of Justin M. Druck, the former owner of The (Logansport, Ind.) Pharos-Tribune and The Logansport Press.
Castonzo, who plans to double-major in journalism and English, said the scholarship and a visit to Bloomington's campus sealed her decision to attend IU.
"Once I visited the campus, I loved the feel of Ernie Pyle Hall, and all the people there were so excited about what they were doing," she said.
Castonzo joined Homestead Senior High School's bi-weekly newspaper, the Spartana, in 2010. Since then, she has written, edited and designed the eight-page paper. She also was a member of the National Honor Society, Key Club, and the speech and debate team.
Her mother, Wendy Castonzo, said the scholarship, along with the school's travel and internship opportunities, helped the family choose IU.
"It just made it a very easy choice for her," she said of her daughter's scholarship.
Justin M. Druck owned the Logansport papers for 30 years before selling them to Robert S. Howard, the head of Howard Publications, in 1966. The Howard Foundation established the IU scholarship in Druck's honor.
"It's the opportunity to study at a wonderful school," said Druck's daughter, Diane Druck, of Bloomington, Ind. "The school has an outstanding reputation on a national level."
She said her father chose the school for the Howard Foundation gift because he was impressed by IU journalism graduates who came to work in Logansport.
