At the age of two, current senior Aysen Tan picked up his first camera. Recently, Tan was selected as one of five student photographers to receive a scholarship from the James Alan Cox Foundation.

The James Alan Cox Foundation provides scholarships every year to five high school student photographers. This year was the sixth year of the scholarships being awarded to talented high school and college students.

A member of the Board of Directors from the foundation called Tan to inform him that he was selected as one of five student photographers to receive the scholarship.

“I won the James Alan Cox Foundation photojournalism scholarship. I submitted five photos and they are sending me $1,000 worth of camera gear, so I was pretty ecstatic,” Tan said.

The foundation was founded in memory of a television photojournalist, James Alan Cox. The foundations mission is to “expand educational and developmental opportunities for student photographers demonstrating interest, talent and financial need.”

Cox began his photojournalism career with the Arizona Cardinals, where he filmed their practices and games for training purposes. He later went to work for KTVK, channel 3, for 12 years in Phoenix.

Cox photographed New York after 9/11; followed the trail of the polygamist Warren Jeffs; and captured the drama of the 2000 presidential election.

Tan, along with the other applicants, submitted a portfolio of five photos, an essay, letters of reference and their school transcripts, in which judges review to make the final decision on which students receive the award.

Tan and the other recipients received a Canon EOS Rebel SL1 DSLR camera with lenses, a carrying case and memory card to reward them.

Tan has found a personal passion for photography over the years.

“I first picked up a camera when I was two years old, and my passion for photography has grown ever since,” Tan said.

Tan is serving his third year as Co-Multimedia Editor of The Foothill Dragon Press.

Tan also has taken photos outside of the journalism world for different events in the community.

“He gave up his time to take pictures at an event at my daughter’s elementary school and has offered to come back again even though he is swamped,” English teacher and ASB advisor Melanie ‘Captain’ Linsdey said.

Along with his achievements in photography, Tan thrives in the classroom, and impresses Lindsey with his photography skills.

“He is one of the most talented photographers I have ever seen,” she said. “He is kind, giving, quirky, humble.”