Hornet Editor-in-Chief Recipient of William P. Frank Scholarship

Synquette K. Wilks, a junior mass communications major at Delaware State University, has been awarded a $10,000 William P. Frank Scholarship.

The scholarship was presented during the May 5 annual First State Gridiron Dinner in Wilmington.

Ms. Wilks is majoring in the convergence (journalism) concentration of mass communications undergraduate degree program. Since the fall of 2011 she has served as the editor-in-chief of The DSU Hornet student newspaper and has written for the campus publication since her freshman year. She is also in the McNair Research Program at DSU.

Ms. Wilks, of Wilmington, said that the Frank Scholarship will greatly help her development as a journalist.

“It will enable me to continue my education as well as learn more about print and internet journalism,” Ms. Wilks said. “I believe this opportunity will provide me with the foundation to build up my journalism career and give me the skills that I will need to compete in the journalism world.”

A graduate of Newark High School, Ms. Wilks is the daughter of Kevin Moore and  Shavon Wilks-Taylor

William P. Frank (1905-1989) was one of Delaware’s best-known journalists of the 20th century. His career spanned 65 years, during which he became a prominent newspaper columnist and radio commentator. He was also a Delaware historian, a Judaic scholar, a Shakespearean actor and a social activist. Although he was listened to by powerful people, he made the concerns of ordinary people his concerns, according to the Gridiron event program.

In 2011, three DSU students were awarded the William P. Frank Scholarship – Deborah Miller ($10,000) from New Castle, Del.; Krystina Muhammad ($5,000) from Newark, Del.; and Desiree Williams ($5,000) from Dover.