Scholarships

Scholarships are available through the University of Kentucky, the College of Communications & Information Studies, the School of Journalism & Telecommunications, and by major type as well as through external sources.

To apply for one of the scholarships available for JAT students listed below, download and submit the following form: >> Scholarship Application.

Scholarships open to TEL majors: The Adam Altman Innovation Award, AT&T Kentucky Scholarship, JAT General Excellence Scholarship, Clarence & Edna Johnson Scholarship, L. Niel Plummer Scholarship, Sy Ramsey Reporting and Writing Award, Shirley Rose Scholarship, John D. Chaplin Scholarship.

Scholarships open to JOU majors: Sam Abell & Dick Ware Photojournalism Award, The Adam Altman Innovation Award, Maria Braden Scholarship, Judith G. Clabes Scholarship, Lt. Col. Charles DeSpain Journalism Award, Edith J. and Charles G. Dickerson Trust Scholarship, Joe Hirsch Scholarship, JAT General Excellence Scholarship, Joe Quinn Prize in Journalism, Clarence & Edna Johnson Scholarship, L. Niel Plummer Scholarship, Sy Ramsey Reporting and Writing Award, Dan Rather Broadcast Journalism Scholarship, Shirley Rose Scholarship, Ryans Family Scholarship, Carol Sutton Scholarship, Bill Billiter Scholarship, John D. Chaplin Scholarship.

Scholarships open to ISC majors: The Adam Altman Innovation Award, JAT General Excellence Scholarship, Clarence & Edna Johnson Scholarship, L. Niel Plummer Scholarship, Sy Ramsey Reporting and Writing Award, Shirley Rose Scholarship, Rick Roth Memorial Scholarship, Theodore E. Schulte Memorial Scholarship, Sheehey and Associates Educational Advancement Scholarship, Jeremy Michael Streck Memorial Scholarship, Bernie Vonderheide Scholarship in Public Relations, John D. Chaplin Scholarship, James C. Bowling Scholarship.

Scholarships and Other Endowed Funds:

Sam Abell and Dick Ware Photojournalism Award (JOU) honors Sam Abell, a retired documentary photographer for The National Geographic Society and the memory of Dick Ware, his friend, fellow photographer and mentor. These scholarships are awarded to declared Journalism majors who demonstrate interest in the field of photojournalism.

Adam Altman Award for Innovation in Communications (JAT): Supports undergraduate who has a declared major in Journalism, ISC or Telecommunications and who exhibits creativity in the discipline.

AT&T Kentucky Scholarship (TEL) is awarded to students who are presently enrolled at UK and are declared Telecommunications majors. Students must submit a 500-word essay on “Societal implications of convergence and the new media delivery technologies.”

Bill Billiter Memorial Endowed Scholarship (JOU): Supports incoming freshmen that have declared Journalism as their major and show financial need.

James C. Bowling Executive-In-Residence Lecture Series (ISC): Supports outstanding senior ISC students that represent the attributes of Mr. Bowling and plan to enter the business world of public relations. A nationally recognized public relations professional is brought to campus each year to work with students, faculty and other professionals in the community.

Maria Braden Endowed Scholarship Fund (JOU): The fund was established in 2004 to honor Maria Braden, a retired UK journalism professor who died July 20. She taught at UK for 21 year. The scholarship will be offered to students who are pre-journalism majors or majors in journalism in the School of Journalism and Telecommunications.

John D. Chaplin Scholarship Fund (JOU): Supports incoming or returning freshman students that are Kentucky residents, show financial need, are declared Journalism majors and have been diagnosed with a certified disability.

Communications Endowed Scholarship Fund (College-wide): Supports undergraduates with academic success and financial need.

Lt. Col. Charles Richardson DeSpain Journalism Award (JOU): Supports sophomore, junior or senior Journalism majors who have demonstrated academic excellence and show promise.

Dickerson Scholarship (JAT): Supports deserving student in the Journalism school who exhibits academic excellence and professional promise.

Friends of ISC (ISC): Supports scholarships, student travel or research projects for juniors or seniors in the ISC Program.

JAT Fund for Excellence (JAT): Supports current year student priorities, JAT News and student travel to national meetings.

JAT General Excellence Scholarship Fund (JAT): Supports students from all three majors that exhibit academic excellence and dedication to a career in mass media and communication industries.

Gidel/Lombardo Family Fund for Academic and Program Excellence (JAT): This fund was established in 2006 by the Robert and Linda Gidel and the Lombardo family. This fund honors the Gidels son, Robert (Rob) W. Gidel. Rob is a 2006 graduate of the UK School of Journalism and Telecommunications. Funds from the endowment may be used to support scholarships, internships, workshops, distinguished alumni lectures, student travel, seminar speakers, publications, to provide assistance to extracurricular student organizations and clubs, student recruitment, and other related activities. The Gidel/Lombardo Family Fund Committee shall determine the use of the funds each year.

Joe Hirsch Scholarship (JAT): honors Joe Hirsch, the renowned, award-winning Daily Racing Form executive columnist who retired in 2003 after a distinguished career that spanned more than a half-century. The scholarship is awarded to an incoming freshman or continuing undergraduate who is interested in working in or pursuing a career in writing in the thoroughbred industry; has a high school GPA of at least 3.0 (undergraduate GPA of at least 2.8 if a continuing student); and who has financial need as determined by the School of Journalism and Telecommunications Scholarship Committee. The recipient will be expected to complete an internship at a thoroughbred racing journalism related organization. This scholarship will provide full tuition. This scholarship was established in 2005 by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and the Daily Racing Form.

Clarence & Edna Johnson Endowed Scholarship Fund (College-wide): It provides scholarships for high school graduates of Pike, Letcher, Harlan or Floyd counties in Kentucky; are undergraduate or graduate students in CCIS; and demonstrate financial need.

J.A. McCauley Fund for Academic Excellence (JAT): Supports Journalism, ISC and Telecommunications majors. Can be used for travel stipends, tuition scholarships or other student needs as determined by the selection committee.

L. Niel Plummer Scholarship Fund (JAT): Supports students from all three majors that have demonstrated the potential for academic success.

Joe Quinn Prize in Journalism (JOU): Supports sophomore Journalism majors. Selection is based on scholarship, promise and need.

Dan Rather Endowed Broadcast Journalism Scholarship (JOU): Supports broadcast Journalism students. Is open to juniors entering the Broadcast Journalism sequence.

Sy Ramsey Reporting and Writing Award (JAT): Awarded to students in all three majors that are juniors or seniors and have demonstrated excellence in writing.

Shirley Rose Scholarship Fund (College-wide): Supports full-time adult learner that demonstrates economic need or is a student of minority status.

Rick Roth Memorial Scholarship Fund (ISC): Established in 2006 to honor the memory of Rick Roth, who taught for 15 years in the School. The fund was created by three former students to honor this "student's teacher." Roth pioneered JAT's Integrated Strategic Communications program. The program combines advertising, public relations, direct marketing and sales promotion. The scholarship is awarded to students who are pre-majors or majors in ISC; demonstrate the qualities embodied by Professor Roth of tenacity, determination, commitment, leadership, service and involvement. Applicants must write an essay of no more than 500 words that explains in detail which of the traits (tenacity, determination, commitment, leadership service or involvement) they believe they most embody, how they have shown it and why they feel they possess this trait. Students should be actively involved in Competition Team/AAF, Ad Club or the UK Student Advertising Agency; if none are eligible than all others will be considered. No award date has been set.

Ryans Family Endowment (JAT): Supports students interested in technical publication writing.

Theodore E. Schulte Memorial Scholarship Fund (ISC): Supports an outstanding ISC major.

Sheehey and Associates Educational Advancement Scholarship (ISC) is awarded to students who have completed their junior year as an ISC major; meet the ISC internship prerequisites set by the School and successfully complete a summer internship; and have a 3.0 GPA in ISC courses with at least a 2.5 GPA overall.

Jeremy M. Streck Memorial Scholarship Fund (ISC): Supports ISC majors that show professional promise demonstrate the characteristic of desire, education and determination and may exhibit economic need.

Bernie Vonderheide Scholarship in Public Relations (JAT) honors Bernie Vonderheide, who spent 23 years of his public relations career speaking on behalf of the University of Kentucky. The scholarship is open to JAT students that have demonstrated an interest in a Public Relations career, have had reporting experience either on or off campus, and submit a 500-word essay. Essay should cover this topic: “Public relations professionals play a vital role in representing government programs and activities to the news media. At the same time, PR professionals also can help governmental officials understand the critical role journalists play in a democracy, and how they go about fulfilling that role. Please describe the specific role you believe a public relations professional in government should take in helping officials and journalists interact in a meaningful way, and thus help both serve the public interest.”

N.M. Webb Journalism Award Fund (JOU): Provides a plaque to an outstanding Journalism major from Eastern Kentucky.