Financial support for EKU students can come in a variety of forms. There are a wide range of scholarships available to our students. In addition, student internships are often paid. If you have questions about what help is available through the School of Communication, check with your faculty adviser.
Apply for departmental School of Communication scholarships here! Follow the APPLY ONLINE link and select “Foundation Scholarships” to automatically apply for all SoC scholarships you qualify for. Also, view scholarship opportunities outside of SoC listed below.
Also, be sure to check for other available sources through the EKU Financial Aid office.
Available Scholarships
School of Communication | College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences | Professional Scholarships / Outside the School of Communication
All scholarship applications, unless otherwise stated, can be obtained in the School of Communication office, Combs Building 317 in January. Scholarship application deadlines are typically March 1 unless otherwise stated. Applications should be submitted in the School of Communication main office. Students should be aware that scholarship money may be deducted from any federal grants the student may receive.
Important: Students should be aware that scholarship money may be deducted from any federal grants the student may receive. For additional information on academic scholarships university wide, please contact: ADMISSIONS, 1-800-464-9191 or visit the EKU Financial Aid website.
School of Communication Scholarships
The $200 Freshman Broadcasting and Electronic Media, Public Relations, and Communication Studies Scholarships are awarded to second semester freshmen students based on EKU grade point average, activities within the School of Communication, activities within the university and professionally related off-campus activities. Annual deadline for applications is March 1.
The Dr. Glen Kleine Scholarship was created by an anonymous donor in Dr. Kleine’s name. Dr. Glen Kleine was a Professor of Journalism, former Chair of the department and former Dean of the College of Applied Arts and Technology. Students must be mass communication majors who can demonstrate academic achievement and financial need. Annual deadline for applications is March 1.
The Charles Weaver Fund ($50) is awarded to an outstanding Communication Studies senior selected by the faculty in that discipline. This award was endowed in the 1920s by Charles Weaver for an outstanding student in public speaking. GPA and service to the School of Communication and university are considered. Awarded in May. Annual deadline for applications is March 1.
The Christy L. Guttridge Memorial Scholarship is available for ALL majors in the School of Communication. This scholarship was established in memory of a 1984 graduate who was killed in an automobile accident near her home in northern Kentucky shortly after her graduation. Each year the SoC awards three $200 scholarships, one for each program. Criteria include a quality of scholarship essay, service to the department, committment to the profession and a minimum or 45 credit hours completed. Annual deadline for applications is March 1.
The Dan Mason Broadcasting and Electronic Media Endowed Scholarship was instituted in May of 2005 by Dan Masden (Mason), a 1973 EKU graduate in broadcasting who has served as an adviser and consultant to companies in the radio broadcasting industry since his retirement from Infinity Radio in 2002. Currently the award is for $1,000. and is for a Broadcasting and Electronic Media major with a major GPA of 3.0 and an overall GPA of at least a 2.5. The student must be in good standing at EKU at the time of the award and during the term in which it is received. The student must submit a short essay (500-1,000 words) on how these funds would enhance their opportunities in the field and share their aspirations after graduation. Annual deadline for applications is March 1.
The Chris Schulte Award is a $1,000 stipend awarded to a junior or senior communication major at EKU with an interest or aptitude in the video area. Among the criteria to be considered for the award are grade point average, work experience and career aspirations. Hammond Productions makes the final decision following submission of this application and an interview. Applications are available in the Communication Office, Combs 317. Deadline for applications is November 1.
The Dr. Dean C. Cannon Endowed Memorial Communication Scholarship was created in the name of Dean Cannon, a professor of communication at EKU from 1978 to 2004. He was named Outstanding Teacher of the Year in the EKU College of Applied Arts and Technology in 1982. He was acting chair of the EKU Department of Mass Communications from 1991 to 1992. This award is $500 and designated for a full-time student at EKU in good academic standing at the time of the award and during the term of the award. The student must be pursuing a major in broadcasting and electronic media or public relations and be a junior or senior with a overall GPA of 3.0. A formal application must be submitted along with an essay of not less than 350 and no more than 400 words addressing the following: 1) What is your communication career goal? 2) What role do communications media play in American society? 3) How will your studies at EKU prepare you for your communication career in that society? Annual deadline for applications is March 1.
The Elizabeth D. Fraas Scholarship was created by an EKU graduate and is available to a junior or senior (more than 60 hours) student with a BEM major and concentration in Multimedia News. It pays tribute to Dr. Fraas, a retired EKU professor and student newspaper adviser for The Eastern Progress. Applicants must demonstrate a good academic record by maintaining a 3.0 GPA and submit an essay stating why they are worthy of the scholarship and describing their career goals in journalism/multimedia news.
Applicants should submit:
- Current resume listing education, work experience, and relevant course work
- An essay of 300 to 500 words: “Why I am worthy of the Elizabeth D. Fraas Scholarship.” Annual deadline for applications is March 1.
The Pat and Paul Gleason Public Relations Scholarship ($100) is awarded annually to a junior public relations student at EKU. GPA, writing ability and Public Relations-related EKU or community activities are considered. The award was established by EKU Public Relations professor Dr. Jim Gleason to honor his parents, Pat and Paul Gleason. It is made possible by a generous donation to EKU. Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Applicant must be an EKU student majoring in Public Relations (PR), a junior (60-89 hours completed at the end of the Spring semester), and in good standing with the university. (If the student is not in good standing, or changes to a major not included under the agreement during the award period, he/she will forfeit any scholarship funds not yet awarded.)
- Complete and submit this application form.
- Attach three writing samples or other examples of your work.
- Attach a resume listing education, work experience, relevant coursework, etc.
All completed application packets will be reviewed and one recipient selected in April. The $100 award for the following academic year is a cash award. Annual deadline for applications is March 1.
The Ruth C. Rogers Memorial Scholarship in Film Techniques and Technologies ($1,000) is awarded to full-time undergrad students in good academic standing; majoring in Broadcasting & Electronic Media with a concentration in Film Techniques and Technology in the School of Communication, at least a junior or senior with 59 hours completed. Submit an essay of not less than 350 words, nor more than 400 words, outlining career goals, wishes of accomplishments through film making and reason for applying for scholarship. Applicants must have a FAFSA demonstrated financial need. Annual deadline for applications is March 1.
The Cinda Wellman Communication Scholarship ($300 per semester) is awarded to a Broadcasting and Electronic Media student, with preference given to female students from Ohio or Kentucky. The scholarship is for all BEM concentrations – Multimedia news, Film Techniques and Technologies, and General BEM. Annual deadline for applications is March 1.
College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences Scholarships
Laura D. Kennamer Endowed Scholarship Fund
Year: Any
Majors: BEM, PUB, CMS
Amount: $1,000 to $10,000
Due: March 1 and Nov. 1 (turn in to Roark, room 106)
Criteria: CLASS scholarship application, two-page letter explaining how money would be used to benefit student’s education and two letters of recommendation.
Layne-Wood Endowed Scholarship
Year: Any
Majors: All
Amount: $500 to $800
Due: March 1 (turn in to Roark, room 106)
Criteria: Must be Kentucky resident with minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. Need to fill out CLASS scholarship application, 500-word essay expressing career goals, list of community and extra-curricular activities, three letters of recommendation.
John McMillan Long Endowed Scholarship
Year: Any
Majors: CMS
Amount: Varies by need
Due: April 1 (turn in to Roark, room 106)
Criteria: Must be full-time student with minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA.
Professional Scholarships / Outside the School of Communication
PR: NABJ Scholarships – National Association of Black Journalists awards scholarships annually to deserving high school and college students interested in pursuing journalism careers. Over the last decade, NABJ has awarded more than a half a million dollars to students studying broadcast, print, and online journalism; photography; graphic design; and communications. NABJ’s scholarships are up to $10,000 each and are named in honor of NABJ Founders DeWayne Wickham and Les Payne. Scholarships are also named in honor of pioneer Carole Simpson, late journalists Larry Whiteside and Allison Fisher, and NABJ’s Visual Task Force. Applications are available online via NABJ’s website every fall and scholarships are awarded in the fall of the next year.
PR: PRSSA Scholarship Opportunities – The Public Relations Student Society of America offers several scholarships for qualifying students.
BEM: Kentucky Press Association Internships for $3,000 are awarded to any student who has completed his or her freshman year at a Kentucky University. The internships are completed at selected Kentucky newspapers for a period of ten weeks during the summer.
PR: KY Society for Hospital Public Relations for $500 (apply for Junior or Senior year). The student must be a full-time junior or senior enrolled in a bachelor’s program and majoring in public relations or a related field of study at any of the Kentucky colleges. The award is based on academic achievement and financial need.
Kentucky Society for Hospital Public Relations and Marketing
Kentucky Hospital Association
PO Box 24163
Louisville, KY 40224
James Stanley
Director, Marketing and Public Relations
Kentucky River Medical Center
540 Jetts Drive
Jackson, KY 41339
Phone: 606.666.6449
E-mail: james_stanley@chc.net
BEM: A $2,500 Harry C. Barfield Scholarship is awarded annually by the Kentucky Broadcasters Association to four broadcasting students at any of Kentucky’s institutions of higher education. If awarded as a junior and grades are maintained, the scholarship is renewable. Interested students should contact the department chair at their respective institutions for an application.
PR: The PRSA Foundation offers a number of scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students in the Public Relations field.
BEM: The SPJ Carl West Memorial Journalism Scholarship was created by the Bluegrass Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists as an opportunity for students to pursue career goals in journalism. The annual award includes at least one $1,000 annual scholarship.
BEM: The Tom Peterson Memorial Scholarship was established by the family of Tom Peterson to support students in Kentucky pursuing a career in communications and journalism.
BEM: The Kentucky Broadcaster’s Association Kentucky Students Scholarship. This high school senior scholarship is a post-secondary partial scholarship program for children of employees of Kentucky radio and television stations. In 2020 the KBA will award fourteen (14) scholarships of fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500) each to qualified sons and daughters of employees of Kentucky broadcast stations. Deadline is April 15.
The Libby Landry Endowment Scholarship will be awarded to five students each year demonstrating financial need while conducting their out of state co-op/internship. For more information, please feel free to contact the Office of Academic and Career Services.