Wisconsin Broadcasters Foundation Student Scholarship Program
Offered by Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Foundation
About This Scholarship
The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Foundation, the charitable arm of the state's radio and television association, awards four student scholarships each fall: three $2,500 scholarships and the $1,500 David L. Nelson Scholarship, for a combined $9,500 in annual support for Wisconsin's next generation of broadcasters.
Eligibility reaches students in two ways. Applicants either must have completed at least half of their degree requirements in a media-related field at a Wisconsin college or university on the foundation's approved school list, or must be graduates of a Wisconsin high school — which keeps Wisconsin natives studying media out of state in the running. All applicants must be planning careers that span today's broadcast landscape of audio, visual, and digital/social media platforms, and previous WBA scholarship winners cannot win again.
The David L. Nelson Scholarship adds two requirements of its own: candidates must be juniors or seniors and must demonstrate financial need. The foundation's unusual fall deadline means Wisconsin broadcasting students can lock in support well before most media scholarships even open.
Eligibility
- Completed at least half of degree requirements in a media-related field at a Wisconsin institution on the approved school list, OR a graduate of a Wisconsin high school
- Planning a career encompassing audio, visual, and digital/social media platforms
- Not a previous WBA scholarship winner
- David L. Nelson Scholarship only: junior or senior standing plus demonstrated financial need
How To Apply
- Complete the student scholarship application available on the WBA Foundation website and submit all materials by the late-October deadline (4 p.m. on the posted date). Winners are typically recognized at WBA events during the following year.
Frequently Asked Questions
I'm from Wisconsin but attend college in another state. Can I apply?
Yes. Graduates of Wisconsin high schools are eligible even if they study elsewhere; alternatively, students at approved Wisconsin institutions qualify regardless of home state once they've completed half their media-related degree requirements.
What makes the David L. Nelson Scholarship different?
It is a $1,500 award with two extra requirements: applicants must be juniors or seniors, and they must demonstrate financial need. The other three scholarships are $2,500 each.
Does 'broadcasting' mean only radio and TV?
The foundation asks for career plans that span audio, visual, and digital/social media platforms — reflecting how modern Wisconsin broadcast newsrooms and stations actually operate.