Bucket List Community Cafe, an online community journalism site for Denver, wants to congratulate the first three recipients of the Darrell Ewalt Scholarship. The three $1,500 gifts are made possible through a generous grant from the Colorado Media Project and the Gates Family Foundation to help BIPOC journalists have the resources to prioritize their work. Here are the 2023 recipients:
Jackie Ramirez is a recent graduate from the University of Colorado Boulder with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in anthropology. Her interests range from education and Latinx topics to the arts. Jackie is a multimedia journalist for Bucket List Community Cafe and the Sopris Sun. You can reach her at jramm9753@gmail.com.
Daianee Galindo is a recent graduate from Metropolitan State University of Denver where she received a bachelor’s in broadcast journalism with a minor in digital media. Daianee is a Colorado native, born and raised in Denver. As a multimedia journalist for Bucket List Community Cafe, she aspires to help communities by providing a platform to tell their stories. You can reach Daianee at daianeegalindo@gmail.com.
Jonathan Peter is graduating in December 2023 from the University of Colorado Boulder. He is majoring in journalism and minoring in economics. Born and raised in Denver, Jonathan is a huge Colorado sports fan with his favorite teams being the Nuggets and the Broncos. He hopes to one day be able to cover sports for a living. You can reach Jonathan at jbpeter30@gmail.com.
The scholarship fund is named in honor of Darrell Ewalt, a prolific sports and programming producer, director and television executive. Darrell passed away in 2016—too young at 58 years old—but not before he inspired innumerable colleagues and friends with his immense talent, good humor and extensive knowledge of television and sports production.
Darrell was one of the first hires for Denver’s HDNet, which joined up with Mark Cuban and became AXS TV. He covered every live sport and music event imaginable and also helped build the remote trucks used to cover the events. He received an Emmy award for producing the first high-definition coverage of an Olympics at the Salt Lake City games in 2002. When Darrell passed, Cuban said, “He left his imprint on every aspect of this company, both as a producer, engineer and as a person.”
Darrell also left his imprint on his friends and family. He was the husband of Bucket List Community Cafe publisher, Vicky Collins, and the father of two sons, Kyle and Blair Ewalt. He was also a great friend, son, brother, neighbor, sports lover, avid golfer and cook. His planning in life made it possible for Vicky to create Bucket List Community Cafe. Darrell’s inspiration made those around him want to give championship effort and we’re honored to help keep his legacy alive with this scholarship for BIPOC journalists.
Congratulations to Jackie, Daianee and Jonathan for being the first recipients of the Darrell Ewalt Scholarship. Thank you to the Colorado Media Project and the Gates Family Foundation for the contribution that helped set up this opportunity for aspiring journalists and journalism entrepreneurs. We hope to keep this scholarship fund alive so that our newsrooms can represent the communities they serve. If you would like to give to Bucket List Community Cafe or make a contribution in Darrell’s honor, you can do it here.
