Meghan Rose has entered the freshman class at Vanderbilt University as the 2008 recipient of the Fred Russell-Grantland Rice TRA Scholarship for sports writing, it was announced by the Thoroughbred Racing Association Sept. 26.

The four-year scholarship is co-sponsored by Vanderbilt University and the TRA and is awarded to an outstanding high school senior with special interest and potential in the field of sports writing. The TRA represents 47 member racing associations conducting Thoroughbred racing at 40 racetracks in North America. 

Rose, who graduated from Towson High School in Maryland last spring, is the 50th winner of the scholarship instituted by the TRA in 1956 and only the second woman to receive the honor, covering full tuition at Vanderbilt for four years.

Named in honor of two legendary sports writing alumni of Vanderbilt, the scholarship has produced such prominent and successful writers and television personalities as Roy Blount, Bill Livingston, Skip Bayless, John (Joe Bob Briggs) Bloom, David Shenin, Tyler Kepner, Lee Jenkins, and Daniel Walken.
           
Rose plans to achieve a liberal arts major with studies in communications as she contemplates pursuing a career in broadcast journalism or writing. During high school, Rose covered sports for a chain of Baltimore County newspapers, was managing editor of the school newspaper, and was a reporter and host for a county-wide television program called High School Sports Scene on The Education Channel.