Scholarships for Student Journalists

In their continuing effort to promote journalism and communication careers, KEMPA awards scholarships to students from member schools planning to major in journalism, photojournalism, communications, or related areas at accredited colleges or universities.

The 2011 scholarship recipients:

Alexandria Johnson (Rolling Meadows High School)
Siti Asma (DeKalb High School)
Adam Pope (DeKalb High School)

Scholarship winners must carry at least the minimum number of credits allowed to qualify as a full-time student. Courses must be indicative of the student's progress toward one of the majors for which the scholarships are intended.

Any college-bound journalist from a KEMPA-member school who wishes to apply must fill out a form which is mailed to member schools in late February/early March. Note: applicants must have been enrolled in a KEMPA-member high school during the academic year in which they apply.

Along with the applications, which are due March 23 of each year, students must include all of the following:

• Academic transcripts;
• Publication adviser’s recommendation;
• Essay explaining goals for the future;
• No more than five copies of published examples of the student’s work. [Such examples might be photocopies of yearbook or newspaper stories or photocopies of layouts/photos/graphic designs done for the student's publication.]

Click here to download a scholarship application.

Send completed scholarship packets to:
Linda Barrington, executive director
4590 Turtle Creek Drive
Brookfield, WI 53005

Applications must be received by March 23 so that the committee can be appointed and meet soon after the spring Board of Directors meeting. Winners are announced in May.

The KEMPA president appoints a committee of three to read applications and decide on final distribution of funds allocated by the Board of Directors. Scholarship money is paid after proof of first semester academic success. Scholarship winners should claim it in the form of (a) a letter explaining the student's journalistic experiences during the freshman first semester and (b) an official copy of first semester grades. This must include a return address. This material is due to the address listed above by February 1 or the scholarship is forfeit.