
The White House Historical Association, in partnership with Iowa State University’s Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication, has awarded Brayton Kohl with the Hugh S. Sidey Scholarship in Journalism. Kohl will receive a $5,000 scholarship and will visit Washington, D.C., attend the annual White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) dinner and be matched with mentors from the WHCA. Kohl will also meet with journalists for mentorship opportunities while in Washington, D.C. Previous recipients of the High Sidey Scholarship have attended White House press briefings and visited media outlets including POLITICO, The Washington Post, and McClatchy News Service during the visit to Washington.
The Hugh S. Sidey Scholarship in Journalism at the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication was established in 2006 at notable journalist Hugh Sidey’s alma mater, Iowa State University. The award supports aspiring journalists at the Greenlee School who exhibit extraordinary understanding of the responsibilities of covering the chief executive and the core principle of social responsibility that resides with journalists. The scholarship was made possible through the generosity of David M. Rubenstein. Students submit an essay to be considered for the scholarship.
“I feel honored to be selected by the White House Historical Association as the recipient of the 2025 Hugh S. Sidey Scholarship,” Kohl said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to attend the dinner and see all the history that Washington D.C. has to offer. I am looking forward to the trip and seeing all the talented journalists that cover American politics!”
Kohl is a third-year student from Jefferson, Iowa, majoring in journalism and mass communication and minoring in political science. He has written for the Iowa State Daily since Fall 2023 and served as the academics editor for the Daily since August 2024. Kohl hopes to serve his community in the future, regardless of his role.