Columnist Heloise Personally Awards First Heloise Fellowship

Reston, VA - Syndicated columnist Heloise paid a quiet visit to Reston, Virginia, on May 6 in order to surprise the first winner of API's Heloise Fellowship, Linda Ediger, by personally presenting the award.

Before applying for the fellowship, Ediger, 45, the community editor of the 8,500-circulation Headlight-Herald in Tillamook, Oregon, did not know much about the American Press Institute. But she certainly knew about Heloise, the author of Hints from Heloise, published in more than 500 newspapers worldwide. After winning the fellowship, the Oregon native, who had never been on a commercial airliner, found herself cruising above the continental United States at 30,000 feet in order to get to API's training facilities near Washington, D.C. At the opening night banquet, Ediger was stunned when she was given the award by Heloise, herself.

Beginning with Ediger, The Hints from Heloise Fellowship will be given annually to a female lifestyle editor to attend API's Lifestyle Editors seminar, which this year took place May 6-11. Heloise created the scholarship last year in honor of her mother, who started Hints from Heloise in 1959.

"It was great fun," said Heloise of presenting the first scholarship to its unique winner. "Linda was so excited to learn and share with her fellow editors."

"Coming to API was something I could never have imagined for myself," said Ediger. "I will be eternally grateful to Heloise and API."

In addition to meeting Heloise and attending the intensive weeklong training program, Ediger met First Lady Laura Bush at a White House reception for the two dozen lifestyle editors.

Heloise said she is looking forward to funding the fellowship again in 2002. The seminar will be held April 29-May 3, 2002, in Reston. For more information about API fellowships, contact Patricia DeFrancesco, API registrar, at 703-715-3320.

About the American Press Institute

Founded by newspaper publishers in 1946, the American Press Institute is the oldest and largest center devoted solely to training and management/leadership development for media professionals and journalism educators. The Institute, housed in a Marcel Breuer-designed building in Reston, Virginia, conducts more than 30 residential seminars a year and develops custom training seminars on content, values, leadership and management. The Institute is now accepting online registrations for its 2001 programs.