Media Interview Talking Points

April 21, 2025 

Jayline Quintana 

Communications Manager 

214-XXX-XXXX 

 

Simon Allen Media Interview Prep: 

To support the incarcerated juvenile firefighters who responded to the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, McGraw Hill hosted an essay scholarship contest. Our #Education4Empowerment contest was created to help the young firefighters pursue higher education and share their stories. The scholarship is a reflection of our commitment to empowering future generations through education. 

 

Talking Points: 

  1. $70,000 available in scholarships: The winner (Jack Green) will receive $50,000, while the second and third place winners (Thomas Diaz and Terry Crews) will each receive $10,000 which can be claimed at any time.  

 

  1. Recognizing courage: McGraw Hill recognizes the courage shown by the young firefighters when responding to the wildfires and is proud to help these individuals by providing them with a platform to share their story and an opportunity at a more affordable college education. 

 

  1. McGraw’s commitment: McGraw Hill is committed to empowering future generations by making education accessible to all. 

 

 

Q1: Why did McGraw Hill decide to launch the #education4empowerment scholarship? 

A1: I remember coming across a video posted on social media interviewing a group of incarcerated firefighters who were helping out in California, and I was really moved by their stories. I immediately shared the video with the rest of the team here at McGraw Hill because I knew we needed to do something to give back to the brave individuals who despite all odds, were so eager to help their community. We decided to launch the #Education4Empowerment scholarship because we believe in the power of education and second chances.  

 

Q2: How much money will be available through the scholarship?  

A2: A total of $70,000 will be awarded to the winners, with $50,000 going to first place winner Jack Green. While the second place winner Thomas Diaz and third place winner Terry Crews will each receive $10,000, which they can claim at any time.  

 

Q3: How does the scholarship align with McGraw Hill’s mission? 

A3: At McGraw Hill we believe education is the most important tool any individual can have. Our #education4empowerment scholarship directly aligns with our mission to make education accessible. 

 

Q4: Can you tell me more about the process for how the winners were determined?  

A4: A panel of judges, including myself and four educators, reviewed each submission and selected the winners based on the strength of their essay and their commitment to pursuing higher education. The selection process was honestly one of the most challenging things I’ve ever been a part of. Every single essay we read was incredibly remarkable, and we know all these young individuals have a bright future ahead of them. 

 

Q5: How do you respond to the concerns that the scholarship contest could be seen as exploiting incarcerated individuals for publicity? 

A5: We understand that there may be some concerns about the scholarship contest,  which is why immediately after we decided we wanted to launch this scholarship, we reached out to the directors of Pine Grove Youth Camp, the organization that coordinates the incarcerated juvenile firefighter programs, because we really wanted to hear their feedback to ensure that this scholarship was aligned with the needs of the individuals and would make a positive impact. 

 

Q6: You had the opportunity to interview the winners for McGraw Hill’s Adventure podcast. Could you share more about what that experience was like? 

A6: Having the opportunity to sit down and talk with Jack, Thomas and Terry for our podcast was incredibly rewarding. What really stood out the most to me was their resilience. Despite the challenges they'd faced earlier in life, they all remained committed to serving their communities.  

  

Q7: Does McGraw Hill have any additional scholarships planned for the future? 

A7: At this time, we do not have any additional scholarships planned. However, we are committed to continuing to explore ways to make education more accessible for everyone.  

 

Q8: How do you respond to the claims that the high cost of your learning materials does not align with McGraw Hill’s mission to make education more accessible? 

A8: The team at McGraw Hill and I,  are deeply committed to making education accessible for everyone by continuing to support students across America with educational scholarships. 

 

Q9: Some corporations have recently started to scale back on their DEI initiatives. Does McGraw Hill plan to pull back or maintain its efforts? 

A9: McGraw Hill is committed to expanding our DEI initiatives because we believe equity is an essential element to making education accessible to everyone.