Mass Communications Scholarships
USF mass communications majors compete effectively for national, regional, state
and university scholarships. Information about most national mass communications
scholarships is available in “The Journalist’s Road to Success,”
a career guide published by Dow Jones’ Newspaper Fund and available on the
Web at https://www.newspaperfund.org.
Students should also check the school’s bulletin boards for announcements
about national, regional, state and university scholarship opportunities. In addition,
scholarship information is available from the Office of Financial Aid in the Student
Services Building on the Tampa campus.
The school also awards numerous scholarships annually. Most of these scholarships
have been supplied by non-university organizations and individuals and are available
only to juniors and seniors who have declared a major in mass communications, have
completed at least six hours of mass communications courses at USF, are currently
enrolled in mass communications courses at USF, and have a 3.0 overall GPA. Although
the majority of the scholarships are for about $500 annually, the amounts shown
are subject to change.
Applications for these scholarships are available in the school office. The application
deadline for scholarships is typically February 28 and scholarship recipients are
announced in April. The scholarships include the following:
Advertising Sequence Scholarships
Endowed Advertising Scholarships: These 15 $500 scholarships are
designated for undergraduate advertising students who are enrolled in or have completed
Advertising 3000. The scholarships are provided by the Bradenton Herald, Patrick
Hill, the Gannett Foundation, the Lakeland Ledger, Media General (with contributions
from both The Tampa Tribune and television station WFLA), the New York Times Regional
Newspaper Group, Jack Painter, the Radio Broadcasters Alliance of Tampa Bay, Roberts
Communications and Marketing, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, television stations WFTS,
WTOG, WTSP and WTVT, and Zimmerman and Partners Advertising.
Journalism Sequence Scholarships
Garner Rose O'Brien Halderman Endowed Scholarship: These two $1,500
scholarships are designated for undergraduate journalism students who wish to become
print journalists. The scholarships are provided by the Garner, Rose, O’Brien
and Halderman families.
Robert L. Hudson Memorial Scholarship: These two $500 scholarships
are designated for undergraduate journalism students with an interest in print journalism.
The scholarships are provided in memory of Robert Hudson.
Tom McEwen Endowed Scholarship: This $1,000 scholarship is designated
for an undergraduate journalism or telecommunications student with an interest in
sports journalism. Preference is given to a student with financial need. The scholarship
is provided by Media General and honors Tom McEwen, who was sports editor and sports
columnist for The Tampa Tribune for nearly 40 years.
Adele Tyre Memorial Scholarship: This $750 scholarship is designated
for an undergraduate journalism or telecommunications student who wishes to become
a broadcast or print journalist. The scholarship is provided by the family of Adele
Tyre in memory of the first black female television reporter in the Tampa Bay area.
Public Relations Sequence Scholarships
John Cassato Scholarship: This $1,000 scholarship is designated
for an undergraduate public relations student. The scholarship is awarded each fall
semester by the Tampa Bay chapter of the Public Relations Society of America in
memory of John Cassato, a former public affairs officer of the Jim Walter corporation.
This scholarship requires residency in the 15-county West Coast area served by the
Tampa Bay PRSA chapter, a 3.0 overall GPA, enrollment in 12 or more hours at USF
and enrollment in or completion of at least one public relations course. Eligible
students are invited by letter to apply. The application deadline is September 30.
Walter E. Griscti Scholarship: This $1,000 scholarship is designated
for an undergraduate public relations student. The scholarship is awarded each spring
semester by the Tampa Bay chapter of the Public Relations Society of America in
memory of USF professor emeritus Walter E. Griscti, APR. This scholarship requires
residency in the 15-county West Coast area served by the Tampa Bay PRSA chapter,
a 3.0 overall GPA, enrollment in 12 or more hours at USF and enrollment in or completion
of at least one public relations course. Eligible students are invited by letter
to apply. The application deadline is February 28.
Telecommunications Sequence Scholarships
Garner Rose O'Brien Halderman Endowed Scholarship: These two $1,500
scholarships are designated for undergraduate telecommunications students who wish
to become broadcast journalists. The scholarships are provided by the Garner, Rose,
O’Brien and Halderman families.
Jack Harris Endowed Scholarship in Broadcasting: This $750 scholarship
is designated for an undergraduate telecommunications student with an interest in
radio or television. The scholarship is provided by the friends of Tampa Bay television
and radio personality Jack Harris.
Jim Liguori Endowed Scholarship: This $1,000 scholarship is designated
for an undergraduate mass communications student with a telecommunications emphasis.
Preference is given to a student with demonstrated leadership skills and with financial
need. The scholarship is provided by Ann Liguori, members of the Liguori family
and other individuals and organizations in memory of Jim Liguori.
Tampa Bay Television Scholarships: These two $500 scholarships
are designated for undergraduate telecommunications students with an interest in
television. The scholarships are provided by television stations WFLA, WFTS, WTOG,
WTSP and WTVT.
Tampa Cable Television Scholarships: These six $500 scholarships
are designated for undergraduate telecommunications students with an interest in
cable television. The scholarships are provided by Time Warner.
Adele Tyre Memorial Scholarship: This $750 scholarship is designated
for an undergraduate journalism or telecommunications student who wishes to become
a broadcast or print journalist. The scholarship is provided by the family of Adele
Tyre in memory of the first black female television reporter in the Tampa Bay area.
Other Mass Communications Scholarships
John and Jerry Wing Alexander Endowed Scholarship: These 15 $3,000
scholarships are designated for undergraduate or graduate mass communications students
who are enrolled full time and who have demonstrated superior academic performance.
Preference is given to students with financial need. Three winners are designated
from each School of Mass Communications area : advertising, journalism, public relations,
telecommunications, and graduate studies. Each scholarship recipient is identified
as an "Alexander Scholar." The scholarships are provided by the estate
of John and Geraldine Wing Alexander.
Gary K. Bernstein Memorial Scholarships: These two $500 scholarships
are designated for undergraduate mass communications students with an interest in
photography. The scholarship is dedicated to the memory of a former student.
Garner Rose O'Brien Halderman Endowed Scholarship: This $1,000
scholarship is designated for a fully admitted graduate student enrolled in a concentration
offered at the Tampa campus. The scholarship is provided by the Garner, Rose, O’Brien
and Halderman families.
Cammie Lyn Krusoe Memorial Scholarship: This $1,000 scholarship is designated for an undergraduate student. The scholarship is dedicated to the memory of a 2004 graduate who died in an accident in 2007.
Meyer Writing Award: This $1,000 scholarship is designated for an undergraduate
mass communications student who has demonstrated exceptional non-fiction writing
skill. The scholarship requires completion of a minimum of 18 hours of mass communications
courses and senior status at the time the award is made. Eligible students are nominated
by full-time mass communications faculty members and selected by a faculty committee
equally representing all undergraduate sequences. The scholarship is provided by
George Meyer of Meyer Publishing Company.
Adah Schaich Memorial Scholarships: These two $500 scholarships
are designated for undergraduate mass communications students with an interest in
photography. The scholarships are provided by the Schaich family.
Minority Scholarships
St. Petersburg Times Minority Scholarships: These two $500 scholarships
are designated for minorities who are undergraduates and who have an interest in
a newspaper career. The scholarships are provided by the St. Petersburg Times. Applicants
must intend to major in mass communications, have completed at least 45 hours of
college work and have a 2.7 overall GPA or better.
Tampa Electric Company Minority Scholarships: These two $500 scholarships
are designated for minorities who are undergraduates with an interest in journalism,
public relations or telecommunications (news option) and who have the potential
for excellent performance. The scholarships are provided by TECO. Applicants must
intend to major in mass communications, have completed at least 45 hours of college
work and have a 2.7 overall GPA or better.
Tampa Tribune Minority Scholarships: These two $500 scholarships
are designated for minorities who are undergraduates and who have an interest in
a newspaper career. The scholarships are provided by The Tampa Tribune. Applicants
must intend to major in mass communications, have completed at least 45 hours of
college work and have a 2.7 overall GPA or better.