April 15 is deadline for Bluegrass SPJ Chapter scholarships


April 15 deadline also for Tom/Pat Gish Award and May 1 deadline for Al Smith Award nominations

April 15 is approaching and with it comes the deadline for college students to apply for a $1,100 scholarship memorializing the late Carl West.

The Bluegrass Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists has created an opportunity for students to pursue career goals in journalism by awarding at least one $1,000 annual scholarship.

Carl West

This year’s scholarship will be given in the name of Carl West, a life-long journalist and founder of the Kentucky Book Fair. West served reporting stints in Northern Kentucky, Frankfort, Washington, and then again, in Frankfort in 1979 to become editor of The State Journal.

Earlier in his career he did outstanding work as a reporter covering the regional and national scene, including Kentucky’s State Capital and the White House and Pentagon in Washington. West retired as State Journal editor in 2014.

Selection Criteria:

• Scholarships will be awarded to students whose work in and out of the classroom indicates a strong commitment to becoming professional print, broadcast or online journalists.

• Students who contribute time and talents to campus publications and broadcast stations will receive added consideration. Media internships will also be considered as measures of professional promise.

• Students who live and/or attend school in the Central and Eastern Kentucky regions, the areas served by Bluegrass SPJ, will receive added consideration.

• Students whose extracurricular activities indicate a commitment to the local community and profession will receive added consideration.

Active participation in a student chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is a plus. The scholarships are renewable each year as long as the student remains qualified. However, the student must reapply each year and compete along with other applicants.

Applications for these scholarships will be judged by a selection committee determined by the Bluegrass Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. The application form is below. It must be completed and submitted along with the required submissions listed below.

Eligibility:

• Must be a Kentucky resident and/or attend a Kentucky higher education institution.

• Must have completed three semesters of post-secondary education as a full-time student.

• Must be in good academic standing and enrolled full time at a college or university. Required Submissions:

• Completed application form.

• Attach a one-page, single-spaced letter summarizing your reasons for pursuing a journalism career.

• An up-to-date official college transcript.

• Three to five examples of your journalistic work such as newspaper/magazine clips, tapes, scripts, photos, graphics, layouts or editing.

• Letters of recommendation from two faculty members or journalism professionals who have direct knowledge of your work.

Deadline: April 15, 2019

Questions? Any questions regarding scholarship applications should be directed to Liz Hansen at (859) 608-7681, or at spjliz@gmail.com

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