Date: Jan 28, 2008
Contact: Phillip Poole / Bernie Ankney, ppoole@samford.edu / rnankney, (205) 726-2823 / (205) 726-2948

Samford Offers Partial Journalism Scholarships

Samford University's department of journalism and mass communication at Samford will offer seven partial scholarships to incoming freshmen this fall.

Bernie Ankney, department chair, said the scholarships will be worth $1,800 per year and can be renewed every year the student maintains a 3.5 grade point average. The scholarships will be awarded based on ACT scores, high-school grades, participation in media-related clubs and volunteer work.

"These scholarships can provide more than $7,000 in financial assistance during a student's time at Samford," Ankney said. "I think the scholarships help high-school students to receive an outstanding education in journalism and mass communication at an affordable cost."

Samford offers strong programs in print journalism, broadcast journalism and public relations. At the 2007 Southeast Journalism Conference (SEJC), Samford journalism students won 18 awards, including eight first-place honors. Samford students won more awards at SEJC than any of the 30 competing schools. Samford student Megan Voelkel was named co-winner of the College Journalist of the Year award and Samford's student-produced magazine, Exodus, was co-winner of the best student magazine award.

"Samford's graduates work for some of the top magazines, newspapers, television stations and public relations organizations in the country," Ankney said. "This scholarship is a great way to ensure your future in a journalism and mass communication job."

Students interested in the scholarship can contact Ankney at (205) 726-2948 or via email at rnankney@samford.edu for an application.
 
Journalism is one of the more than 100 major fields of study at Samford, Alabama's largest independent university.  Samford consistently is recognized as a top university by U.S. News & World Report.