Iowa Newspaper Foundation Scholarships
Offered by Iowa Newspaper Foundation
About This Scholarship
The Iowa Newspaper Foundation, the educational arm of the Iowa Newspaper Association, runs a slate of named scholarships for students preparing for newspaper and journalism careers, most of them tied to Iowa schools or Iowa students. The lineup includes the Carter Pitts Endowment and Le Mars Daily Sentinel/Carter Pitts scholarships ($500 each) for high school seniors or current college students in Iowa journalism programs, the Jack Hovelson Scholarship ($1,000) for sophomores through seniors at the University of Northern Iowa or Iowa State University, the Morlan Scholarship ($1,000) for students from Iowa communities under 10,000 population, the Shaw Scholarship (up to $1,200) for college freshmen who are dependents of Iowa newspaper employees, and the Woodward Scholarship ($500), which reaches journalism and communications students at colleges in Iowa, Illinois, or Wisconsin.
Because one application window covers the whole slate, students are matched to the awards they qualify for rather than filing separate applications. Several awards — like the Morlan's small-town requirement and the Shaw's newspaper-family requirement — have narrow criteria that thin the applicant pool, which can work in a qualified student's favor.
The foundation also funds Belin and Iowa Journalism Institute scholarships benefiting students at Iowa State University's Greenlee School of Journalism and students nationally who show interest in community newspaper careers.
Eligibility
- High school senior or current college student, depending on the specific award
- Most awards require enrollment in (or plans to enroll in) a journalism program at an Iowa college; the Woodward Scholarship also covers Illinois and Wisconsin colleges
- Some named awards carry extra criteria: hometown under 10,000 population (Morlan), dependent of an Iowa newspaper employee (Shaw), or attendance at UNI/Iowa State (Hovelson)
How To Apply
- Download the scholarship application from the Iowa Newspaper Association's scholarships page, note which named awards you qualify for, and submit the completed application with supporting materials by the mid-February deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can high school seniors apply?
Yes. Several of the awards, including the Carter Pitts scholarships, are open to Iowa high school seniors who plan to study journalism in college, and the Shaw Scholarship targets incoming college freshmen from Iowa newspaper families.
Do I have to attend college in Iowa?
Most awards are tied to Iowa journalism programs, but the Woodward Scholarship extends to journalism and communications students at colleges in Illinois and Wisconsin as well.
How many scholarships can I receive?
The foundation matches applicants against the full slate of named awards they qualify for through a single application, and it has awarded seven or more scholarships in a single year.