This year the Department of Journalism is awarding 28 scholarships and awards worth a total of $41,700. Application deadline is Thursday, March 15 at 5 p.m. Winners will be honored at the annual department banquet on April 13.
Interested students must submit:
A completed application form
Two completed recommendation forms. One filled out by a CMU journalism faculty member who is NOT on the scholarship committee (see below) and one of your choice
A copy of your official or unofficial CMU transcript
Your current resume
One-page essays for each scholarship and award which requires them (see specific criteria below)
IMPORTANT NOTES
Students must be enrolled full-time in the fall of 2018 to be eligible.
Students may apply for - and receive - more than one scholarship and/or award
Unless otherwise indicated in the specific scholarship criteria, JOURNALISM MAJOR or MAJOR includes all department majors (journalism; advertising; photojournalism; journalism-PR concentration.) MINOR refers to a journalism minor.
The scholarship committee includes: Kent Miller, KenDonald, Lori Brost, Elina Erzikova, Steve Coon and Ron Marmarelli
Scholarships and Endowment criteria
Jack & Nancy Benedict Endowed Award
$500
Journalism major
Minimum GPA of 2.5
Part-time attendance or withdrawal from the university will result in cancellation of the scholarship
Jennifer H. Bourque Memorial Award
$1,000
Photojournalism major
Minimum GPA of 2.5
Demonstrate financial need
Michigan resident
Preference will be given to a student that is a single parent
The award may be renewable through the completion of a degree as long as the student remains full-time
One-page essay explaining how you have demonstrated merit with an emphasis on financial need
Clarke Endowed Student Journalist Scholarship
$1,500
Journalism major
At least two semesters of work at CM-LIFE and/or college newspaper as a transfer student
Minimum 3.0 GPA
Financial need
Renewable
Matt Dobek Endowment
Two awards of $2,250 each
Journalism major
Full-time student
Students must demonstrate the need for financial support for travel to conferences, internships, and/or study abroad
One-page essay expressing need based on the criteria
Dennis L. Durkee Endowed Award in Journalism
$1,000
Sophomore or higher
Minimum GPA 3.0
Financial need
The Kelly Fitzpatrick & Bruce Wood Memorial Scholarship
$1,500
Confirmation the applicant intends to pursue a career in journalism
Signed major
Experience in field of study
Involvement in activities outside the department (examples include organized groups, clubs, community volunteer programs and events)
Applicant essay focusing on service (see above)
Roger and Lisa Hart Annual Journalism Award
$1,000
Offered to journalism majors with preference to photojournalism
Students must have worked at CM-Life for or Grand Central Magazine for at least one semester.
Full-time student
Preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher; minimum GPA 2.5
Pam Klein Scholarship
$2,500
Signed major
Full-time student
At least two semesters of significant contribution as a writer or editor at CM Life
Intention to pursue a career focused on writing (not photography, design or broadcast)
Avid reader of the news media
Non-smoker and non-user of tobacco products
Demonstrate curiosity about how things work
Demonstrate tough fairness and fair toughness
Demonstrate tenacity to do what's right, not what's easy;
Demonstrate clear writing that cuts through the clutter and gets to the meat of an issue;
Demonstrate not only high journalistic standards, but also serve as a role model and/or mentor for other journalism students
One-page essay demonstrating above
Minimum 3.0 overall GPA and 3.3 JRN GPA
Robert E. McCabe Scholarship
Two awards of $2,250 each
Confirmation the applicant intends to pursue a career in journalism and/or broadcasting
Signed major/minor
Financial need; FAFSA form must be on file with the Financial Aid Office
Full-time student status as a senior
Journalism GPA of at least 3.2
One-page essay demonstrating merit and financial need
Gilbert O. Maienknecht Scholarship
Two awards of $1,800 each
Confirmation applicant intends to pursue a career in journalism and/or broadcasting
Signed major/minor
Full-time student status
Financial need is a major, but not an exclusive, consideration
One-page essay explaining how you have demonstrated merit and financial need
George and Vivian Malewska Scholarship
$1,500
Major in news/editorial journalism
Preference for those working at CM Life or Grand Central Magazine
Interest in pursuing a career in journalism
Minimum 2.5 overall GPA
Suzanne Nichols Endowed Scholarship
$1,250
Intends to pursue a career in journalism
Signed journalism major/minor
Full-time student status
Journalism GPA of 3.0
Opperman Public Relations Internship Endowment
$2,500
Confirmation the applicant intends to pursue a career in public relations
Public relations student participating in an unpaid or underpaid public relations internship
The internship must either be a graduation requirement for the recipient or the recipient must be returning to academic studies at CMU after completing the internship
Journalism or integrative public relations major
GPA of at least 3.0
One-page essay of merit based on the criteria of the scholarship
Dr. Michael J. Petrick Journalism Scholarship
Two awards of $1,800 each
News/editorial student journalism major
Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
Demonstrate financial need
Judith Bruhn Serrin Memorial Endowed Award
$1,500
Signed journalism major/minor must be on file
Full-time student status
GPA of 3.0 or higher
The scholarship is for a student who shows exceptional promise in American journalism and who has demonstrated through his/her work, grades, attitude, commitment, and ambition that journalism is a field in which one can, with talent and hard work, tell the truth and make America a better place.
One-page essay demonstrating the above
Ken Stevens Memorial Endowed Photojournalism Internship Scholarship
$2,000
Photojournalism major
CM-Life or Grand Central Magazine staff photographer or other suitable media outlet
Interest in a visual media related internship
Junior or Senior
Minimum GPA of 2.75
Renewable
Jim and Carol Wojcik Endowed Scholarship
$2,500
Journalism Major
GPA of at least 2.75
Recipient must be participating in an approved student media program or pre-professional organization including but not limited to: PRSSA, PR Central, Central Michigan LIFE, Grand Central Magazine, Ad Club, etc.
One-page essay of merit based on the criteria of the scholarship
Renewable
Study Abroad Scholarship
$750
Confirmation the applicant plans to study abroad
Full-time student
Preference will be given to a student who studies in Singapore
One-page essay explaining why you qualify for the study abroad award. In your essay, please explain your past, present or future plans for study abroad.
Departmental Awards and Honors
Outstanding Junior or Senior
$750
Signed journalism major
Must currently be a junior or senior and enrolled for classes in Fall 2018
One-page essay explaining how you have demonstrated merit
Leadership Award
$750
Signed journalism major
Leadership in/out of Department of Journalism including groups, events, volunteerism, associations
Full-time student status
Experience with leadership at CM Life and/or Grand Central Magazine or similar field of study
One-page essay explaining how you have demonstrated leadership
Journalism Scholar of the Year
$750
Signed journalism major form must be on file
Student's overall GPA and journalism GPA will be strong considerations
Full-time student status
Previous recipients may apply
One-page essay explaining how you have demonstrated scholarly achievement
Friends of Journalism
$750
Signed major/minor on file
Full-time student status
Journalism GPA of at least 3.0
Previous recipients may apply
One-page essay explaining how you have demonstrated merit and financial need