College of Liberal Arts & Sciences The University of Iowa School of Journalism and Mass Communication The University of Iowa

UI Financial Aid: Journalism &
Mass Communication Scholarships

Key: U = open only to undergraduates. MAP = masters professional. Also: PhD & Faculty

Philip D. Adler Journalist Scholarship U
Awarded to junior journalism majors who show great potential for leadership and editorial achievement in newspaper or broadcast journalism. The scholarship was endowed with a gift from the Lee Foundation to honor Philip D. Adler, a 1926 graduate of the School and longtime president of Lee Enterprises, Inc. Mr. Adler also was publisher of the Davenport Times-Democrat.

Ruth Baty and Maurice Barnett Jones Scholarship
Awarded to women journalism students on the basis of academic performance and a demonstrated interest in the development of human understanding and human rights. Maurice Barnett Jones was a longtime publisher of the Cresco Times-Plain Dealer and endowed this scholarship in honor of his spouse, Ruth Baty Jones, a newspaperwoman known for her editorials and her news writing.

Toni Berry Memorial Scholarship Fund
Established by Toni Berry’s family, which includes Professor Venise Berry. The scholarship supports an individual who serves as the supervising editor of NURU, the newspaper published by the UI’s student chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists.

James W. Blackburn Scholarship U
Awarded to junior or senior journalism majors and based on potential for a successful journalism career, character and personality, and on the nature and quality of extracurricular activities. Mr. Blackburn, who died in 1981, was an alumnus of The University of Iowa and founder of Blackburn & Company, a media brokerage firm. In 1991, Mr. Blackburn was elected to the Broadcasting Magazine Hall of Fame for lifetime contributions to the “Fifth Estate.”

Harry S. Bunker Memorial Scholarship U
Awarded to juniors who show aptitude, interest and potential for a successful newspaper career, based on scholarship, personality, character, extracurricular activities, industry and demonstrated potential. Mr. Bunker was the former president of Speidel Newspapers. Following his death in September 1966, this scholarship was established in his honor.

Conger-Reynolds Scholarship
Awarded to a journalism major who has made outstanding contributions in public relations. Mr. Reynolds, who taught some of the early journalism courses at the University of Iowa, was for 26 years director of public relations for the Standard Oil Company of Indiana. A number of his friends established this fund in his honor.

Paul Conrad Scholarship
Established in honor of Mr. Conrad's 80th birthday. Mr. Conrad is a distinguished political cartoonist and a three-time Pulitzer Prize winner. He was chief editorial cartoonist of the Los Angeles Times from 1964 to 1993.

Laurence Fairall Scholarship in Journalism U & MAP
Awarded to students who were born and raised in Iowa, who intend to make active careers in journalism, and who have at least a 3.00 cumulative grade point average. Undergraduate and master’s professional students are eligible.

The Gazette Company Scholarship U
Initiated in 1991 by Joe Hladky III, president of the Gazette Company, this scholarship is awarded to two deserving junior or senior students who wish to pursue a journalism career in Iowa.

The Gazette Foundation Minority Journalism Scholarship
Awarded to a minority journalism student planning a career in print or broadcast journalism. Preference will be given to students from eastern Iowa who plan to remain in Iowa after graduation.

Cedar Rapids Gazette Photo Scholarship
Awarded to a top student photographer. This scholarship has been sponsored by the Gazette since 1950.

Jess Gorkin Magazine Scholarship U
Awarded t o junior or senior journalism students who show potential for a successful career in the magazine field. Mr. Gorkin, a 1936 graduate of the School, was editor of Parade magazine and a magazine consultant.

W. Earl Hall and Reeves E. Hall Scholarship
Awarded to journalism majors who have achieved distinction in editorial or interpretive news writing. W. Earl Hall was editor of the Mason City Globe-Gazette. Reeves E. Hall was associated with the Manchester Publishing Co.

Bruce A. Harrison Memorial Scholarship U & MAP
Awarded to a deserving journalism major or master’s professional student. Mr. Harrison received his master’s degree in journalism in 1967, and died in 1994. This scholarship was established in his memory by family and friends.

Harriet E. Janes Journalism Scholarship
Established in 2006 and awarded to a student who demonstrates potential for career advancement in writing or broadcast journalism. Preference is given to students from Vinton, Iowa; from Benton County, Iowa; or from surrounding counties.

John F. Kennedy Truth-in-Journalism Scholarship
Awarded to a journalism student who has achieved distinction in interpretive or investigative reporting. The award was established in 1964 by Roy Bazire, a 1939 J-MC School graduate.

Tom King Memorial Scholarship U
Awarded to a junior or senior demonstrating potential for career achievement in writing or broadcast journalism. Tom King, a Cedar Rapids native and a 1986 J-MC School graduate, was a 16-year veteran of the Wall Street Journal, creator of the paper’s "Hollywood Journal" column and author of the best-selling biography of media mogul David Geffen, The Operator. Tom also appeared regularly on CNBC until his untimely death in April 2003. The scholarship was established by family, friends and professional associates.

Judy Klemesrud Writing Scholarship U
Awarded to an undergraduate student with at least a 2.75 GPA, an interest in women's issues and social change, and displaying great promise in the ability to write about these issues. Judy Klemesrud was a 1961 graduate of the School and a reporter for The New York Times. Established by family, friends and colleagues upon her death in 1985.

A.W. Lee Scholarship U & MAP
Awarded to juniors, seniors or master's professional students who show potential for a successful career, academic achievement, demonstrated competence and participation in extracurricular activities. Scholarships are awarded in five areas: newspaper, editorial page and/or commentary, broadcast or electronic journalism, online journalism, and advertising or public relations. The scholarship honors A.W. Lee, who founded what later became Lee Enterprises Inc., owner and operator of newspapers and broadcast stations.

E. Jack and Ailene Liechty Scholarship U
Award to a deserving full-time journalism junior or senior student who demonstrates sound academic ability and a desire to pursue a journalism career. This scholarship was established in 1995 by Mrs. Ailene Liechty in memory of her husband, E. Jack Liechty.

William S. Maulsby Memorial Scholarship
Established in 1993 by Professor Maulsby's granddaughter, Susan Redfern, to be given to a student with financial need and at least a 2.7 GPA who plans to teach high school journalism. Beginning in 1919, William S. Maulsby was the first person to teach journalism courses exclusively at the University of Iowa.

Dorothy Wilson Moeller Writing Scholarship
Established by Mrs. Moeller's daughter and son, Margaret Nelson and Dr. Kent Moeller, on her 90th birthday in 1992 to honor her commitment to the art and craft of writing. This scholarship is awarded to a student who plans a career in the field of mass communication and who has demonstrated outstanding sensitivity to language and skill in its use in the mass media.

Frank Luther Mott Undergraduate Scholarship U
Memorializes Frank Luther Mott, director of the School from 1927 to 1943. This scholarship is awarded to junior or senior journalism students interested in newspaper and magazine reporting. Special emphasis is given to honesty in reporting, investigative ability, purity of writing and absence of news editorializing.

Carl J. Nelson Memorial Research Scholarship PhD
Awarded to the editor of the Journal of Communication Inquiry in recognition of contributions in support of mass communication scholarship. Carl Nelson, a 1931 graduate of Iowa, for many years headed a leading media research firm, Carl Nelson Research, Inc., based in Chicago. He died in 1966.

Ellis Newsome Scholarship
Awarded to a student interested in a career in public relations or advertising. The student should be in good standing as a journalism major. The account was established by James Patten to recognize his University of Iowa mentor, Professor Ellis Newsome.

Jerry Parker Feature Writing Scholarship U
Awarded to a junior journalism major who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in feature writing and achieved academic excellence. Jerry Parker graduated from Iowa in 1961 and was a talented reporter and feature writer for Newsday until his death in 1985.

Westbrook Pegler Scholarship
Awarded to a student who has demonstrated a particular interest in and awareness of the responsibility and immense power of the press. Westbrook Pegler, who died in 1964, was a widely known newspaper columnist and Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist. Copies of his books and papers are housed at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library, West Branch, Iowa. The award is supported by a friend of The University of Iowa.

Wilbur C. Peterson Scholarship
Awarded to deserving journalism students. The award was established in 1966 by students and friends of Peterson, a faculty member in the School of Journalism from 1951 to 1966.

Linda Perrin Taber Pollack Scholarship U
Awarded to junior or senior journalism majors who demonstrate interest and involvement in extracurricular activities at The University of Iowa. This fund was initiated with a bequest from Roy H. Pollack in memory of his wife.

Dorothy Pownall Scholarship U
Awarded to a senior female who has shown great potential as a journalist of high competence. This scholarship was established in 1977 to honor Mrs. Pownall, a newspaper reporter and free-lance writer. She was the wife of Fred Pownall, who for many years was associated with the School and The Daily Iowan.

Fred Pownall Scholarship U
Awarded to senior males showing great potential as highly competent journalists. Established in 1976 by students and friends of Mr. Pownall, a faculty member from 1935 to the mid-1950s and publisher of Student Publications Inc.

Jacob E. Reizenstein Scholarship U
Awarded to an undergraduate student showing outstanding enterprise and capability in news gathering and writing. Mr. Reizenstein’s writing appeared for 80 years in Iowa City newspapers: from 1880, when he was 11, until 1960. He was a reporter, city editor and contributing editor for the Iowa City Press-Citizen.

Florence Ruebush Scholarship U
Awarded to full-time juniors and seniors enrolled as undergraduate majors in the School. Recipients are selected based upon their academic achievement and their professional potential.

Howard A. Schumacher Scholarship U
Awarded to the outstanding senior in leadership, academic performance and promise of journalism success. Mr. Schumacher, a 1931 Iowa alum, was a well-known manufacturing executive and management consultant. He died in 1975.

Shafer Family Trust Scholarship
Awarded to residents of Iowa who have demonstrated academic excellence. Recipients also must be interested in the adaptation and use of electronic imaging and visualization technologies to report and disseminate news.

Ben Silver Broadcasting Journalism Scholarship
Awarded to a student who has demonstrated an interest in broadcast journalism by obtaining meaningful employment or an internship in the field. Established as a gift from Ben Silver, a 1955 graduate of the School who for many years was a CBS correspondent and is professor emeritus at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunication at Arizona State University.

Paul Edwin Smith Estate Scholarship
To be given for the first time in 2007 to a worthy journalism student. Mr. Smith, an alumnus of the university, died in 2005.

Gordon B. Strayer Scholarship U
Awarded to an undergraduate student who has demonstrated leadership in the campus chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America and achieved academic excellence. Gordon B. Strayer, a 1951 master’s graduate, worked for University Relations for over 40 years. A national leader in public relations, he retired in 1991.

Alan Waxenberg Scholarship MAP
Started by Mr. Waxenberg’s family and friends in honor of his 60th birthday. Preference is given to a female master’s professional student interested in a career in the magazine field. A 1956 graduate, Mr. Waxenberg was formerly the editor of Good Housekeeping magazine and vice president and publisher of Victoria magazine.

Charles H. Weller Scholarship
Awarded to a journalism student for excellence in the graphic arts. This award was established in honor of Charles H. Weller, who was the first director of the School of Journalism, and served from 1924-1927.

Mark Westerbeck Memorial Scholarship
Awarded to deserving journalism students who demonstrate ability in investigative journalism, magazine writing and editing. Mr. Westerbeck, who graduated from the School in 1975, was a newspaper reporter. At the time of his death in 1988, at the age of 35, he was a highly successful trade publications editor. The award was established by his friends and is supported by his parents.

Ruth A. Wilson Memorial Scholarship U
This scholarship is awarded to a female undergraduate sophomore or junior with interest and desire to pursue a career in the print media and her potential for achieving professional competence in the field.

Donald K.Woolley Scholarship
Established in 2006 and awarded to a photojournalism student. Don Woolley, who also was an alumnus of the School, taught photojournalism in the 1960s and 1970s. He was legendary for always going the extra mile for his students, as well as for his unique delivery of final exams -- for instance, floating the test on rubber ducks sent down the Iowa River.

Thomas Yoseloff Scholarship U
Awarded to a worthy first-year journalism student. This award was established with gifts from the children, grandchildren, family and friends in honor of Thomas Yoseloff, a 1934 graduate of the School.

Jim Zabel Scholarship U
Awarded to junior or senior journalism students who demonstrate professional promise and academic excellence and who are planning a career in broadcast journalism. The award was established in honor of Jim Zabel, longtime sports director of WHO radio in Des Moines and a 1944 graduate of the School.

Ruth and Morris Zweiban Memorial Scholarship MAP
Preference is given to international students in the master’s professional program. The Zweibans immigrated from Eastern Europe in the early 1900s. Although neither could afford a higher education, they ultimately were able to help their own children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and now, students in the School. Ruth Zweiban passed away in 1986 and Morris Zweiban in 1991.

Awards

Philip D. Adler Daily Iowan Award
Awarded to the outstanding Daily Iowan staffer who has worked at the DI for at least three months prior to the scholarship application, and who shows promise for a career in journalism. The award originally was established by the late Mr. Adler, who was editor of The Daily Iowan in 1925 and graduated from the School in 1926.

Kappa Tau Alpha—Leslie G. Moeller Chapter
Recognition of individuals invited to join the Leslie G. Moeller chapter of KTA, the only national society honoring scholarship in journalism and mass communication. The Top Scholar award is presented to the KTA graduating senior with the highest scholastic standing.

John F. Murray Outstanding Doctoral Student—Research PhD
Awarded to a senior doctoral student selected by the School’s graduate faculty for significant achievement in research activities.

John F. Murray Outstanding Doctoral Student—Teaching PhD
Awarded to a senior doctoral student selected by the School’s graduate faculty for outstanding contributions to teaching.

Dorothy Rubenstein Award
Awarded to a worthy journalism student, preferably a resident of Iowa. Established in 1996 by Dorothy Rubenstein, a 1932 graduate of the School.

Society of Professional Journalists—Outstanding Graduate
Awarded to the School’s outstanding graduate, determined on the basis of character, scholarship, and competence to perform journalistic tasks. Recipient must be a member of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ). Selected by members of the Richard Johns Chapter of SPJ.

Society of Professional Journalists—Outstanding Faculty FACULTY
Each year the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) recognizes a School of Journalism faculty member. The selection is based on nominations submitted by student members of SPJ. The criteria for recognition includes: record of service to the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and The University of Iowa, as well as to the profession of journalism and the education of journalists.