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Chicagoan Honors Illinois Journalism Student Killed In Car Crash

By Justin Breen | January 5, 2017 8:05am
 Chicago's Walker Post, at Lane Tech College Prep (left) and University of Illinois, is the first recipient of the Brett Lerner Memorial Scholarship. Lerner is on the right.
Chicago's Walker Post, at Lane Tech College Prep (left) and University of Illinois, is the first recipient of the Brett Lerner Memorial Scholarship. Lerner is on the right.
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Walker Post

CHICAGO — Walker Post never met Brett Lerner, but Post said he'll always remember him.

Post, a University of Illinois junior majoring in journalism, is the first recipient of the Brett Lerner Memorial Scholarship.

Lerner, 20, died in a car accident on his way to cover a game in October 2015. Lerner had worked for The Daily Illini, Big Ten Network and ESPN C-U and other media organizations. Fellow U of I student journalists said Lerner, who lived in Buffalo Grove, was on his way to becoming a star in the field.

RELATED: U. of I. Student Who Died in Car Accident Honored on Radio Show He Hosted

The Brett Lerner Memorial Scholarship Fund, created by Lerner's family and friends, gives scholarships to Illinois journalism students on an annual basis.

Post, an Irving Park native and Lane Tech College Prep graduate, is receiving $1,500 he said he'll use to help cover tuition.

"Whenever I'm doing my journalism work, it's very humbling to know that there are people out there who are supporting me," Post, 20, said. "Receiving the scholarship just fuels my passion for journalism, and it makes me certain that I'm going down the right path. ... Words can't sum up how grateful I am to be the first recipient."

Post, the vice president of the Illinois chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, has interned with "Chicago Tonight" on WTTW and works at Illinois' student radio station, WPGU. He was named Illinois High School Journalist of the Year in 2014 when he was editor in chief of Lane Tech College Prep's newspaper, The Warrior.

Post also just debuted a news- and politics-based website called The Rapport that he created with U of I journalism students Taylor Dugas — a Saint Ignatius College Prep grad and Hyde Park native — and Lincoln Wang — a Walter Payton College prep alumnus and Wicker Park native.

"We're trying to reinvigorate politics and news in the millennial realm, where writers can express things through the perspective of millennials," Post said.

For more information on the Brett Lerner Memorial Scholarship click here.

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