Carol and Cecil Schwalbe Science Multimedia Scholarship
Olesen Davis De Dios (O.D.D.)’s Carol & Cecil Schwalbe Science Multimedia Scholarship Endowment
at The University of Arizona School of Journalism
The Carol & Cecil Schwalbe multimedia scholarship recognizes the efforts of Professor Carol Schwalbe and Dr. Cecil R. Schwalbe, her late supportive spouse and partner-in-crime, in creating and building out the science journalism program. Given to a student interested in science reporting using long-form multimedia storytelling.
Dedication:
Our team at Davis de Dios Media decided to create the ODD Science (environmental, medical, technology and so forth) Multimedia Scholarship for several reasons, chief of them being a show of appreciation for the then-director of the University of Arizona School of Journalism Director Carol Schwalbe.
It was in 2013 that I found myself, a new transfer student at the University of Arizona, in Professor Schwalbe’s 400/500 level advanced science multimedia journalism class. Going into journalism, I always thought I would be a writer. It was this course that really opened my eyes to visual storytelling.
Over the course of that semester, I would go from taking photos with my iPad to creating video stories with professional broadcast cameras. Overcoming the learning curve took an enormous amount of energy and time but Professor Schwalbe’s patience and instruction provided me with the guidance I needed to succeed. Incidentally, I would also go on to meet my future business partner John de Dios in this class. John was one of the professional video and photography mentors for the course.
To me, science journalism is all about patience and allowing yourself enough time to comprehend the moving pieces of a story well enough to communicate it properly. And being able to communicate that clearly to any audience is powerful.
There has never been a more present need for science journalists than now. The environmental challenges that face our society are overwhelming and complicated. Science journalists decipher and decode dense information for the general public.
The Carol & Cecil R. Schwalbe Environmental & Science Multimedia Scholarship is to go to a journalism student who is interested in telling environmental science multimedia stories. Doing this successfully is intimidating, difficult and time consuming. We hope that the scholarship can, in some small way, lessen the stress that comes with tackling the steep learning curve.
Of course, we cannot dedicate this scholarship to Carol without mentioning her spouse, our brother, our friend Dr. Cecil R. Schwalbe. Cecil was an integral part of the science journalism experience at the school of journalism. Cecil himself is an experience. His energy, enthusiasm, and passion for teaching and for reptiles – especially those from the desert Southwest was infectious and instilled a sense of “fun” in the learning and communication of science. In loving tribute to our brother and friend, “The Snakeman” Cecil R. Schwalbe, we will officially rename the scholarship to the Carol & Cecil R. Schwalbe Science Multimedia Scholarship.
With tremendous gratitude,
~ Alan Scott Davis, CEO, Davis de Dios Media
Light & Motion Stella Pro Lights
Aside from the scholarship funds, the inaugural recipient of the ODDest Science Multimedia Journalism Scholarship will also receive an STELLA PRO LIGHTS INTERVIEW KIT, valued at $1,999, from Light & Motion and a 2-hour one-on-one training session with Davis De Dios Media.
STELLA PRO LIGHTS IN ACTION
Photographs of Indigenous Enterprise at Lost Dutchman State Park using 6 Clx10s. Indigenous Enterprise is a troupe of Indigenous dancers who have performed in front of millions of audiences in live performances around the world, including the Joyce Theater in New York City, the Sydney Opera House, Canada, NBC’s World of Dance, and for the President Joe Biden Inauguration Virtual Celebration. Indigenous Enterprise has also been featured in The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and TV Broadcast news stations across the country. 
Professors Roberto Furfaro and Vishnu Reddy at their telescopes at the Biosphere 2 campus in Oracle, Arizona. Furfaro and Reddy are working on satellite-tracking telescopes to identify and map satellites orbiting around the Earth’s moon. Photographs by John de Dios for the College of Engineering. 
Professor Vishnu Reddy stands outside one of the white buildings he designed for to house the satellite-tracking telescopes at the Biosphere 2 campus. Reddy also designed a structure that holds up to 20 camera lenses that connect to camera sensors and controlled by computer to capture and map the space around the moon. Photograph by John de Dios 
Photographs of Indigenous Enterprise at Lost Dutchman State Park using 6 Clx10s. Indigenous Enterprise is a troupe of Indigenous dancers who have performed in front of millions of audiences in live performances around the world, including the Joyce Theater in New York City, the Sydney Opera House, Canada, NBC’s World of Dance, and for the President Joe Biden Inauguration Virtual Celebration. Indigenous Enterprise has also been featured in The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and TV Broadcast news stations across the country.
RECIPIENTS
2021 Recipient: Jordan T. Chin
Jordan, a junior at the University of Arizona School of Journalism, is the inaugural recipient of the Olesen Davis de Dios Science Multimedia Scholarship. Jordan, who has had plenty of experience in professional camera work, receives this scholarship for his interests in long-form storytelling using visual media. His previous work and experience with Arizona Public Media, the local PBS affiliate, where Jordan has split his time between studio and field work, he said. Jordan has also interned at the Hiawatha Broadband Communications (HBC), Inc., in Winona, Minnesota. In addition to the scholarship ($1,000), Jordan will also be receiving a StellaPro 2 Light Interview Kit from Light & Motion, a value of $1,999.99, and a specialized two-hour, one-on-one training session with Light & Motion Champions of Light Alan Davis and John de Dios of Davis de Dios Media. Congratulations, Jordan!
2022 Recipient: Emma Brocato
Emma Brocato, a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Arizona School of Journalism, is the recipient of the Olesen Davis de Dios Science Multimedia Scholarship for 2022. The scholarship committee selected Brocato “for her dedication to her studies as well as her efforts to give a voice to the untold stories of the natural world.”
Tax-Deductible Donation
If you are interested in making a tax-deductible donation to help us grow the ODD Science Multimedia Scholarship Endowment, visit the University of Arizona Foundation campaign.
For additional information about the University of Arizona School of Journalism, contact Michael Chesnick, outreach coordinator, at The University of Arizona School of Journalism, Marshall Building, Rm. 334, 845 N. Park Ave., Tucson, AZ 85711. Email: journal@email.arizona.edu Phone: 520.621.7557
Davis de Dios Media 