Nebraska University Student News | Journalism & Mass Communications
- – The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s College of Journalism and Mass Communications announced that junior Ellen Pham has been awarded the sixth annual Bailey Lauerman Fund for Student Opportunity...
- Pham, a first-generation Vietnamese-American and member of the LGBTQ+ community, grew up in La Vista, Nebraska.
- “Navigating a white-majority community meant I was cautious of what parts of myself might stick out to others.”
LINCOLN, Neb. – The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s College of Journalism and Mass Communications announced that junior Ellen Pham has been awarded the sixth annual Bailey Lauerman Fund for Student Opportunity Scholarship on April 28, 2026. Pham was selected for her dedication to telling diverse stories, according to a press release from the college.
Pham, a first-generation Vietnamese-American and member of the LGBTQ+ community, grew up in La Vista, Nebraska. She expressed a long-held desire to tell stories that are often underrepresented in media, stemming from her childhood observation that many of her peers saw their experiences reflected on screen while she did not.
“Navigating a white-majority community meant I was cautious of what parts of myself might stick out to others.”
Ellen Pham
Her passion for storytelling developed from a desire to understand her own identity and see experiences similar to her own represented in entertainment and popular culture. Pham began exploring media production in high school, immersing herself in photography, videography, and journalism.
Currently a junior majoring in broadcast, advertising, and PR at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Pham has spent three years interning with HuskerVision. In this role, she films, produces, and edits footage for various UNL sports teams.
The Bailey Lauerman Fund for Student Opportunity Scholarship recognizes students who demonstrate a commitment to impactful storytelling. The scholarship aims to support students who are passionate about using media to shape culture and foster understanding.
Pham’s selection was announced by Bailey Lauerman, the fund’s namesake, on April 28, 2026. The college highlighted Pham’s skill and experience as key factors in her winning the scholarship.