The Idaho Press Club annually awards $1,500 scholarships to Idaho college journalism students, along with a $500 mid-career scholarship for any training or project that will improve the working press in Idaho. Both are endowed scholarships, named in honor of Don Watkins, the former press secretary to Idaho Gov. John Evans who mentored scores of Idaho reporters and who died in 1981. The deadline to apply for both the student and mid-career scholarships this year is Feb. 15.
Interested in applying? Or know a deserving journalism student? Pass the word and get those applications in!
Here are the details:
Graduates of Idaho high schools who have completed at least one year of college and wish to pursue a career in journalism or communications are eligible for the Don Watkins Memorial Scholarship of up to $1,500. Full-time students majoring in journalism or working for a college or professional media outlet are also eligible to apply.
If interested, submit a one-page resume; a 500-word essay explaining your interest in a journalism or communications career; samples of your journalistic work, whether published or unpublished; and a copy of your transcripts, including GPA, through the most recent fall term. Applications may be submitted electronically via email to email@idahopressclub.org. If you have video files, please upload them to YouTube or a similar site and send the link. Deadline: Feb. 15.
The Don Watkins Mid-Career Scholarship is for training or a project that will improve the working press in Idaho. That includes attending that out-of-state professional training conference you’ve been eyeing! The only catch: You must share what you learn with Press Club members through a discussion at a Press Club event or an article in an upcoming edition of the Communicator. Any Press Club member is eligible for this scholarship.
To apply, send your resume and a proposal for how you would spend the money to us via e-mail to email@idahopressclub.org. Deadline: Feb. 15.
The winners of both scholarships will be announced as part of the Press Club’s annual awards program in April. This year, our gala annual awards banquet is set for April 29 at the Boise Centre.
The Idaho Press Club is dedicated to improving the practice of journalism in Idaho. To that end, this website features resources for journalists, from how to object to a closed meeting to an Idaho Town Pronunciation Guide. You’ll also find press club news, contest entry information, how to apply for our scholarships and much more. The Idaho Press Club’s mission is to promote excellence in journalism, freedom of expression and freedom of information.
