SOJC Scholarships for Undergrads

The scholarships listed below are available to undergraduate students already enrolled in the SOJC. Some are available only to students in specific majors or who meet other criteria.

The School of Journalism and Communication will notify scholarship applicants about SOJC scholarships by early June via the email they provided on their scholarship application.

Questions? Reach out to Jessika Kaiser, associate director for donor relations.

Apply Via The UO Scholarship Dashboard

View Application Instructions and Guidelines

Lucien Arant Memorial Endowment Fund

This fund was established in 1979 by the estate of Mamie C. Arant in memory of Lucien P. Arant, a longtime publisher of Oregon and Idaho newspapers and president of the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association. The scholarship is for UO students, with a preference for students studying journalism.

Criteria: Preference is given to journalism students, although it is not required.

Robert Bigelow Scholarship

This memorial scholarship honors Robert Bigelow, the late publisher of the Lake Oswego Review and the West Linn Tidings. The annual $2,000 scholarship will provide tuition for a student from Lake Oswego or West Linn who aspires to a career in journalism and is active in the community. The School of Journalism will review applications, select the recipient, and notify Lake Oswego Rotary. The Rotary will invite the recipient and parents to a meeting for scholarship presentation and notify local media.

Criteria: Recipient must be a student from Lake Oswego or West Linn who aspires to a career in journalism and is active in the community.

Kirsten Bolin Scholarship

Kirsten Bolin ’86 worked as an account executive with a Portland public relations firm until her death in 1991. Her parents established this scholarship in her memory.

Criteria: The scholarship is awarded to a female student majoring in journalism and communication.

Robert Branch Scholarship

Each scholarship will constitute a one-year period of support. Applicants’ financial need, community involvement and service, academic achievement, and exceptional circumstances such as hobbies, noneducational achievements, travel, and work experience will be considered.

Criteria: The donor's preference is given to new students, particularly those in the black community.

Buck Aaron Buchwach Scholarship

This scholarship supports an SOJC student with a focus in sports journalism.

Criteria: Preference is given to students who intend to work in print sports journalism.

Robert W. and Nancy Chandler Journalism Scholarship

Robert Chandler was the publisher and editor of The Bulletin in Bend for over 40 years. He also started Western Communications, which owns eight newspapers in Oregon and California. Robert and his wife Nancy established this scholarship.

Criteria: The scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate student majoring in news-editorial journalism.

Scholarship for Civic and Watchdog Journalism

This scholarship is named in honor of SOJC Assistant Professor Brent Walth ’84. It provides support to SOJC undergraduate or graduate students whose work has demonstrated a commitment to, and outstanding achievement in, civic and watchdog journalism.

Criteria: Special consideration is given to applicants whose work demonstrates the importance of explaining the complexities of issues, challenging conventional wisdom, holding institutions and leaders accountable, and listening to the voices of those often ignored in the community. The student’s work should show a commitment to protecting civic values such as fairness, justice, equal access, public and health safety, and the public treasury.

Arlyn E. Cole Scholarship

These scholarships shall be granted primarily to deserving students attending the SOJC or the Lundquist College of Business. The recipients of the scholarship shall be selected by one or more committees appointed annually by the president of the university.

Criteria: Preference is given to students who plan to seek careers in the advertising profession.

The Columbia Scholarship

These scholarships provide annual funding for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a degree in journalism and communication. They will be used to attract the most talented and academically strongest students to the SOJC.

Criteria: Determined by the dean of the SOJC in consultation with the faculty.

Ann Curry Endowed Scholarship

Since Emmy Award-winning journalist Ann Curry graduated from the SOJC in 1978, she has continued to make an undeniable mark on the world of broadcast journalism. As a humanitarian reporter, she has won various awards for her work. She established the Ann Curry Scholarship Endowment in 2002 to provide scholarships for SOJC students.

Criteria: Preference is given to a student(s) with demonstrated financial need and a passion for traditional and emergent forms of journalism.

The Aaron and David Douglas Scholarship for Investigative Journalism

Created by Aaron (BA ’83) and Dr. David Douglas in 2019 to support SOJC students in their studies.

Criteria: Financial need, with a preference to students majoring in journalism who have shown promise or affinity in the area of investigative, in-depth reporting. The subject of stories or type of media would not be restricted.

Michael T. DuBrowa Memorial Scholarship

SOJC alum and Hall of Achievement member Corey duBrowa ’88 established the Michael T. DuBrowa Memorial Scholarship Fund in honor of his late father, Michael T. DuBrowa, a first-generation college graduate, to provide annual scholarship support to an SOJC student. The award may be used to assist the student with expenses related to attending the university, including but not limited to tuition, room and board, fees, and course materials.

Criteria: Preference is given to an undergraduate student in advertising or public relations. Preference is given to students with demonstrated financial need, as determined by the university. Preference is given to students who are first-generation college attendees.

Bruce Dworshak Memorial Scholarship

This fund, established in memory of SOJC alum Bruce Dworshak ’75, will support SOJC students.

Criteria: Preference given to students with an interest in news operations and sports.

John Edward Egan II Memorial Scholarship

John and Marybeth Egan established this scholarship in 1998 in honor of John Edward Egan II, their son, who passed away in 1996. John Edward Egan II was an SOJC student who aspired to be a screenwriter and graduated with a degree in telecommunications and film. Students will be eligible to receive the scholarship annually for a total of up to four years, provided they continue to meet the minimum criteria noted below.

Criteria: Applicants must demonstrate a financial need as well as academic proficiency, with a GPA of 3.0 or greater.

Greg and Carol Flakus Scholarship

Greg Flakus and his wife Carol established the Greg and Carol Flakus Scholarship Fund to support undergraduate SOJC students with a focus on broadcast journalism. The scholarship awards may be used to assist one or more students with expenses related to attending the university, including but not limited to tuition, fees, books, miscellaneous supplies, and room and board.

Criteria: Preference will be given to students who have demonstrated an interest in broadcast journalism.

Robert Frazier Memorial Scholarship

Alton F. Baker Jr. established the Robert B. Frazier Memorial Scholarship Fund in 1977 in honor of Robert B. Frazier ’48, who served as an editorial writer and later as the editorial page editor for The Register-Guard. He has been described as the “complete newspaperman,” excelling as a reporter, feature writer, editor, and columnist.

Criteria: This scholarship provides support for a student with demonstrated financial need in journalism who intends to make a career in writing or editing for a newspaper.

Henry Gatton Ethics in Media Scholarship

The purpose of the fund is to establish a scholarship in the SOJC to encourage journalistic integrity and character of students through the Henry Gatton Ethics in the Media Scholarship. This award will go to those individuals who have exemplified courage, accuracy, and fairness, thereby demonstrating ethics in media reporting and encouraging public trust in the media. Judging of the applicants will be done by a panel of at least three journalism faculty members (including the dean or a nominee of the dean). Awards will be made at a minimum of $1,000 per recipient and based on the available funds for distribution in the fund. Larger awards may be made at the discretion of the school, based on current needs for retaining high-quality students exemplifying high ethics in the media.

Criteria: The Gatton Scholarship may be given annually to a qualified junior or senior majoring in journalism with a focus in broadcasting, print, or new media publishing. Eligible students must be enrolled at the University of Oregon when the nominated work is published. The nominated work must be published in a regularly distributed medium, such as a student or professional newspaper, magazine, broadcast or cablecast news program, or an edited online publication.

The Jason and Bridget George International News Media Scholarship Fund

Created by Jason (BS ’01) and Bridget George in 2019 to support SOJC students in their undergraduate studies.

Criteria: Financial need, with a preference for students who are interested in the area of international news media.

Hall of Achievement Scholarship

The SOJC’s Hall of Achievement Fund was established in 1998 to celebrate the history of the school and honor the accomplishments of its graduates. The Hall of Achievement Scholarship Fund provides financial support to SOJC students.

Holmes-Sept Scholarship

Richard and Beverly Sept are alumni of the SOJC and longtime supporters of their alma mater. This fund provides scholarships for students in financial need (using the university's criteria for determining financial need).

Criteria: Students who meet the UO’s criteria for financial need are eligible to apply for this scholarship.

John L. and Elizabeth R. Hulteng Scholarship

John Hulteng was a former dean and professor at the SOJC and a success in the newspaper industry. He was inducted into the SOJC Hall of Achievement in 1999. In 1989, John and his wife Elizabeth established this scholarship. It is recommended that students holding the scholarships may apply for renewal of the scholarships in appropriate ensuing years.

Criteria: Scholarships will be awarded to news-editorial majors. It is suggested that applicants be selected on the basis of financial need and scholastic ability.

Anne Marie Levis Scholarship

This scholarship provides support for underserved students with demonstrated financial need to attend the SOJC.

Criteria: Preference is given to women of color.

The Lorry I. Lokey Journalism Scholarship

The Lorry I. Lokey Journalism Scholarship was created by Lorry Lokey, chair emeritus and founder of Business Wire, and philanthropist dedicated to advance learning. This scholarship was created to raise the national and international profile of the School of Journalism and Communication, attract the best and brightest young minds to the University of Oregon, and be a catalyst for developing outstanding future leaders for the journalism and communication industry.

The Alan and Gail Maltun News/Editorial Scholarship

A former Los Angeles Times reporter, Alan Maltun ’74 founded Maltun Communications and worked for many years as a public relations consultant before joining Abernathy MacGregor in 1998.

Criteria: The scholarship provides support for students who are studying print journalism in the SOJC’s journalism program.

The Ann Maxwell Allen Hall Advertising Scholarship

Ann Maxwell led a very successful career as a copywriter at agencies in California before she joined the SOJC as an associate professor of advertising. She took on the role of the Allen Hall Advertising advisor and began research on the emergence of account planning in the United States. This led her to create the first account planning class to be taught at a major university.

Criteria: This scholarship provides support for advertising students at the SOJC.

Joyce McHolick Scholarship in Advertising and Public Relations

Joyce McHolick and her husband William established this scholarship before she passed away. The scholarship will be $3,000 unless redirected, changed, or transferred at the direction of the donors.

Criteria: The scholarship will be awarded to a student in advertising and public relations who has reached senior status by the time the award is used. The recipient must maintain a GPA of 3.50 in all journalism and communication courses at the University of Oregon and carry a minimum of 14 credit hours during each term the scholarship is used. The recipient must be a U.S. citizen and demonstrate a commitment to volunteerism and community service during their time at the university. The scholarship recipient must not have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor.

Ken Metzler Memorial Scholarship

Betty Metzler established the Ken Metzler Memorial Scholarship in memory of her late husband, SOJC Professor Ken Metzler, to provide support to SOJC students. The scholarship awards may be used to assist one or more students with qualified educational expenses, including but not limited to tuition, fees, books, room and board, research, and travel associated directly with the student’s education and/or dissertation.

Criteria: Consideration is given to overall quality of academic work and a demonstrated interest in journalistic writing.

The Ronnie Owens Moss Memorial Scholarship

Sam Moss created the Ronnie Owens Moss Memorial Scholarship in honor of his late wife, SOJC alum Ronnie Moss, to provide an annual scholarship to an SOJC student.

Criteria: Preference will be given to students with financial need. This scholarship is not restricted by gender, but special consideration will be given to women.

The Lyle and Corinne Nelson Scholarship Fund

Lyle Nelson enjoyed a career serving many roles in public relations, and he was a beloved SOJC professor. Many students have referred to Nelson as the catalyst for their success. In addition to his efforts to help his students succeed, he is most remembered for the John S. Knight Professional Journalism Fellowship Program. After his death, his widow, Corinne Nelson, established this scholarship to provide funding for SOJC majors or pre-majors. Corinne passed away in 2018, and her daughters chose to include her name in the scholarship.

Criteria: This scholarship is for SOJC students who have demonstrated outstanding potential in the field of journalism through their work for The Daily Emerald.

Oregon Journal Fund for the School of Journalism

The Oregon Journal Fund for the School of Journalism was created to assist School of Journalism students in paying for their expenses while students at the University.

George Pasero Memorial Scholarship in Sports Journalism

This scholarship was established in honor of George Pasero ’40, a distinguished sportswriter. He is a member of the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame and was inducted into the SOJC’s Hall of Achievement in 2006. This fund provides scholarships to students enrolled in the SOJC.

Criteria: This scholarship will be awarded to SOJC undergraduate or graduate students with a demonstrated interest in sports journalism.

The Mary Sakakibara Poss Scholarship

SOJC alum Mary Sakakibara ’86 established the Mary Sakakibara Poss Scholarship to provide support for SOJC students.

Warren C. Price Memorial Scholarship

The Warren C. Price Memorial Fund was established in 1967 in honor of this “one-of-a-kind” SOJC professor. During his time at the University of Oregon, Price was the editor of Journalism Quarterly and twice served as acting dean of the school.

Criteria: This scholarship recognizes a student at the University of Oregon for excellence in writing in the field of journalistic history.

The Rafi And Zoreh Scholarship

Created by Hassan Rafi-Zadeh (MA ’69) and Zohreh Sotoodeh in 2019 to support SOJC graduate and undergraduate students.

Criteria: Financial need for undergraduate and graduate students, especially international students.

Dean Rea Scholarship

In 2006, the Dean Rea Scholarship was created after Rea's induction into the SOJC's Hall of Achievement. Several alumni of the SOJC created the fund in his name to honor his years of service to the school to provide annual scholarship(s) to a deserving SOJC student(s).

Criteria: Preference will be given to SOJC majors with a strong interest in newspaper reporting and/or editing in print or digital media.

Janice E. and David N. Rianda Scholarship

This scholarship honors David (BS ’60, MS '65) and the late Janice Rianda ’61 to provide scholarship support for undergraduate SOJC students.

Criteria: The scholarship will be awarded to students with a senior standing who are majoring in journalism and have a minimum 3.25 GPA. Preference is given to Oregon residents with an interest in news editorial journalism. In the interest of promoting a diverse student body, it is the donors' request that the university give special consideration to women. The award is not restricted by age, gender, race, national origin, or ethnicity, and each applicant shall be evaluated as an individual.

Robert W. Sawyer Scholarship

The Robert W. Sawyer Memorial Scholarship was established to provide support for SOJC students.

Earl “Kurtis” Sharar Memorial Scholarship

Janice Sharar established the Earl “Kurtis" Sharar Memorial Fund in honor of her late husband, SOJC alum Earl “Kurtis” Sharar ’65, to provide annual scholarship support to SOJC student(s). The award may be used to assist the student(s) with expenses related to attending the university, including but not limited to tuition, room and board, fees, and course materials. The scholarship is renewable each academic year with satisfactory academic progress.

Criteria: Preference is given to an undergraduate student majoring in journalism. Preference is also given to students with demonstrated financial need, as determined by the university.

Shaw Family Scholarship

These scholarships support upcoming professionals in the SOJC who can bring a variety of backgrounds and perspectives to the communication industry, as this strategic sector needs more people to represent and interpret the complex world in which we live. The scholarships may be used for all standard educational expenses, including tuition, fees, books, miscellaneous supplies, room, and board.

Criteria: The donors have a strong interest in providing financial assistance to students from diverse backgrounds. Given this interest, the donors recognize that the scholarship will help support the university’s and the SOJC’s commitment to a diverse student population that includes individuals of varying ages, genders, races, national origins, and talents, as well as those from underrepresented population and/or economically disadvantaged backgrounds. This scholarship is not restricted by age, gender, race, national origin or ethnicity, and each applicant shall be evaluated as an individual and not in a way that makes an applicant’s gender, race, national origin, ethnicity, or family background the defining feature of his or her application.

Randy Shilts Scholarship

The late Randy Shilts graduated in 1977 and worked as a columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle. Shilts was awarded the UO Alumni Association's Distinguished Young Alumnus Award in 1993 and was inducted into the SOJC's Hall of Achievement in 1998. The Randy Shilts Endowment Fund, established in 1993, supports a scholarship awarded to an undergraduate news editorial student.

Criteria: The scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate news editorial student.

Janet Beigal Smith Memorial Scholarship

Paul L. Smith established this scholarship in memory of his wife, Janet Beigal Smith, in 1986. During her career, Janet was an outstanding high school teacher and journalism advisor, a national high school newspaper journalism award winner, and a public information officer for the Portland Public School System.

Criteria: This fund provides scholarships for SOJC students who intend to become high school journalism teachers.

Gretchen Starr Endowment Fund in the School of Journalism

Gretchen Starr was a journalism graduate from Arizona State University who worked for Youth Care in Seattle, serving homeless and runaway children. She passed away in 2003. In her memory, her parents, Rick and Janet Starr, established the Gretchen Starr Scholarship Endowment Fund in the SOJC.

Criteria: Preference will be given to SOJC students majoring in journalism.

Beulah F. Stephens Scholarship

Beulah Stephens was a successful journalist at several newspapers. She created this annual scholarship for an undergraduate student or students in the SOJC. A recipient may be awarded the scholarship for more than one year.

Criteria: The dean selects each scholarship recipient based on academic achievement and financial need, as determined by the university.

Wally Jo Tharp Scholarship

The Board of Trustees of the University of Oregon Foundation and friends and family of Wally Jo Tharp established the Wally Jo Tharp Memorial Scholarship in 2001 to provide one or more scholarships to qualified students who are majoring in public relations in the SOJC.

Criteria: The selection criteria shall be based on financial need, scholastic excellence, and demonstrated examples of the passion and dedication necessary to succeed in the field of public relations. Preference will be given to older, returning students.

Ken Warren Memorial Scholarship

The Ken Warren Memorial Scholarship Fund was created to provide scholarships to qualified SOJC students. Scholarships shall be administered by the broadcasting faculty, assisted by Ken Warren Jr. The selection process may include undergraduate or graduate students qualified to attend the University of Oregon. We recommend that students holding the scholarships may apply for renewal of the scholarships in appropriate ensuing years.

Criteria: The donor suggests that applicants be selected based on financial need and scholastic ability. Preference will be given to students with a career focus on public educational broadcasting.

WE Communications Pam Edstrom Scholarship

WE Communications established the WE Communications Pam Edstrom Scholarship in memory of Pam Edstrom, co-founder of WE Communications (formerly Waggener Edstrom), a public relations agency.

Criteria: This fund provides scholarships to two or more undergraduate students interested in an internship or career in the strategic communication industry.

Duke Wieden Scholarship

SOJC alum Dan Wieden ’67 established the Duke Wieden Scholarship in memory of his father, the late Duke Wieden, to provide scholarships to a student in any SOJC major who is interested in creative work.

Criteria: Preference is given to a Caldera student, but it’s not required.

Jack and Marci Williams Scholarship

The Jack and Marci Williams Scholarship was established in 2008 by Jack and Marci Williams to provide scholarships for undergraduate or graduate students in the SOJC. The scholarships may be used for all educational expenses, including tuition, fees, books, miscellaneous supplies, room and board.

Criteria: Undergraduate and/or graduate students majoring in journalism and communications are eligible for this award. Preference is given to students who have benefited from adoption or foster family care services.

Larry R. Williams Scholarship

The Larry R. Williams Scholarship was established in 1999 by Larry Williams in grateful recognition of the practical education that Professor Max Wales provided to so many SOJC students, including Williams himself.

Criteria: This fund provides scholarships to advertising students in the SOJC who have been accepted as majors in the program and who have demonstrated creative talent and motivation. Students are not required to have a high grade point average.

The Richard and Mary Williams Scholarship

The Richard and Mary Williams Scholarship benefits the SOJC at the discretion of the dean.

Bill Winter Advertising Scholarship

Bill Winter was a beloved advertising professor in the SOJC. Students and colleagues funded the Willis Winter Presentation Room in Allen Hall in his honor.

Criteria: The Bill Winter Advertising scholarship endowment will provide access and opportunity for deserving advertising undergraduate and graduate students at the SOJC.

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