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Undergraduate Program

Journalism Awards & Scholarships

Kappa Tau Alpha

Kappa Tau Alpha National Honor Society in Journalism and Mass Communication Student induction into the Quintus C. Wilson Chapter of KTA
KTA Outstanding Junior Recognition Presented to the highest ranking junior
KTA Outstanding Senior Recognition Presented to the highest ranking senior

 

PRSSA Awards

Sara Barr Cohen Outstanding Contribution to PRSSA Award
 Criteria: PRSSA member in good standing
non E-board member
minimum 2.0 GPA
Short statement on why they or the person they are nominating should receive the award.
George M.Crowson Excellence in PRSSA Leadership Award
 Criteria: PRSSA E-Board member or Former E-board member in good standing
minimum 2.0 GPA
Short statement on why they or the person they are nominating should receive the award.
Creativity in Public Relations Award
 Criteria: PRSSA member in good standing
minimum 2.0 GPA
Example of something creative they have done while in PRSSA. This example of creativity in the PR field could have been accomplished in PRSSA or at an internship.
Most Outstanding PRSSA Team Leadership and Contribution Award
 PRSSA member in good standing
minimum 2.0 GPA
Short statement on why they or the person they are nominating should receive the award.

Broadcast News Awards

NTC Broadcast News Reporter of the Year Awarded to the student demonstrating excellence in news reporting, anchoring and production
NTC Weathercaster of the Year Awarded to the student demonstrating excellence in environmental reporting and weather presentations
NTC Sportscaster of the Year Awarded to the student demonstrating excellence in sports reporting and sports news production
NTC News Graduate Student of the Year Awarded to the graduate student demonstrating excellence in news planning and leadership

Northern Star Awards

Northern Star Most Dedicated Staffer Awarded to an unsung hero on the Northern Star staff
Roy G. Campbell “Best Damn Reporter” Award Awarded to the reporter who best exhibits the spirit and tenacity of Roy G. Campbell
Ryan Byrne Memorial Award Awarded to a student who exhibits passion for sports, talent for journalism, and quality of character
Kathy Orr McDonald Award for Editorial Excellence Awarded to a staffer who exhibits newsroom leadership, integrity, ethical conduct, and accuracy in reporting
David Onak Memorial Scholarship Awarded to students employed by the Northern Star who are pursuing a career in journalism or public relations
Campbell-Thompson Northern Star Scholarship Awarded to a staffer who exhibits the combined spirit of two legendary advisers
Tom Fullmer Editing Award Awarded for excellence in editing

Journalism Awards

Martha Cooper Journalism Award Awarded for outstanding journalistic effort contributing to the greater awareness of women’s issues at NIU
Ann Nelson Nahas Scholarship Awarded to a major in print or electronic journalism
Van Sells Memorial Endowment in Communication Scholarship Scholarship Awarded with preference to a female student who exhibits scholastic excellence in print or broadcast media
Irvan J. Kummerfeldt Scholarship Awarded to a journalism major who demonstrates professional skill and ethical judgment
NIU Media Award Awarded to a student who has made a significant contribution to campus media
Kenneth Smith Scholarship Awarded to outstanding journalism majors
Donald R. Grubb Scholarship Awarded to an outstanding print or photojournalism student
Hallie J. Hamilton Scholarship Awarded to an outstanding photojournalism student
Granville and Eleanor Price Scholarship Awarded to an outstanding student for news-editorial accomplishments
Albert Walker Public Relations Award Awarded to an outstanding public relations student
Scripps Newspaper League Scholarship Awarded to an outstanding student
John Clogston Memorial Scholarship To provide assistance to students in the journalism degree program
NINA Donald F. Brod Scholarship Awarded to a student majoring in print news or photojournalism
NINA Donald R. Grubb Scholarship Awarded to a student majoring in print news or photojournalism
Illinois Journalist of the Year Scholarship Illinois Journalist of the Year Scholarship Presented to a student in honor of the winner of the Illinois Journalist of the Year Award
Outstanding Senior Award Presented by the faculty to the top senior major
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Deans’ Award
- Journalism Area Coordinator’s Award
- Communication Department Chair’s Award		 Awarded to an outstanding journalism student chosen by the three combined areas

Journalism Scholarships

 Download journalism scholarship application here

John Clogston Memorial Scholarship Student(s) must:
1) be studying print or photo
2) have sophomore status and a GPA of 2.0 or above
James Copley Scholarship Preferences to students majoring in print or photo journalism.    
Donald R. Grubb Scholarship Scholarship recipients: 1) must be majoring in journalism with a concentration in the area of print or photo and be in good standing
2) must have sophomore, junior, or senior status
3) must have a cum GPA of 2.0 or above
Hallie J. Hamilton Scholarship Preference given to students majoring in photo journalism.
Irvan J. Kummerfeldt Scholarship Recipients must be majoring in journalism
NIU Media Award Scholarship recipients
1) must have sophomore or junior status
2) any major who has made a significant contribution to one or more of the communications media serving NIU
3) have a GPA of C+ or above
Ann Nelson Nahas Memorial Scholarship Scholarship recipients are chosen on the basis of scholarship and
10 must be journalism majors with a concentration in print or electronic journalism
2) must have junior or senior status
NINA Donald F. Brod Scholarship Preference is given to students majoring in print or photo journalism
NINA Donald R. Grubb Scholarship Preference is given to students majoring in print or photo journalism
David Onak Memorial Scholarship Scholarship recipients
1) must be a full-time undergraduate journalism student who works for the Northern Star and plans a career in journalism or public relations
2) must have a 3.0 or above cum GPA
Preference will be given to students who demonstrate financial need as defined by the NIU Office of Financial Aid.
Granville and Eleanor Price Scholarship

Scholarship recipients
1) must be a full-time upper class journalism major; preference will be given to students with a concentration in print journalism2) must have a 3.0 or above cum GPA

In case of multiple qualified candidates, the deciding factor will be financial need.

More than one scholarship may be awarded.
Scholarship may be renewed.
Kenneth Smith Memorial Scholarship Recipients must be majoring in journalism.
Van Sells Memorial Endowment in Communication Scholarship To provide a scholarship for a student(s) in the Department of Communication
Scripps Newspaper League Scholarship Preference is given to students majoring in print or photo journalism.
Campbell-Thompson Northern Star Scholarship  Awarded to a staffer who exhibits the combined spirit of two legendary advisers.