The Penn State University College of Communications is seeking applications from incoming full-time undergraduate Penn State students with career goals in newspaper journalism for the John S. and James L. Knight Diversity Fellows Scholarship. The College of Communications will award a $5,000 John S. and James L. Knight Diversity Fellows Scholarship to two students who plan to major in journalism and one who plans to major in sports journalism for the academic year 2008-2009.

This scholarship covers tuition up to $5,000 for students whose ethnic, cultural and/or national background contribute to the diversity of the student body. This scholarship support is available for fall and spring semester of each academic year for up to four years. Consideration for this scholarship shall be given to all first-year full-time undergraduate students entering the College of Communications at University Park, who intend to major in journalism.

Recipients must, in their second year: declare a journalism major with an emphasis in print journalism and maintain full-time status (12 credits/semester minimum); overall satisfactory academic progress; at least a "B" average in the journalism major; and a satisfactory record of personal conduct.

Recipients are encouraged to participate in College of Communications and campus retention programs as specified by undergraduate advisers.

The student must be a citizen or eligible non-citizen and not be in default of any federal student aid programs. Awards are based on merit. However, adjustments to need-based aid sources (Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Work Study, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity-Based Grant, Federal Stafford Loan, etc.) may be necessary. When adjustments are necessary, loan and work need-based aid sources are always adjusted first.

Students must submit:
1. A completed application form.
2. Three examples of news or feature stories, published or unpublished.
3. A letter of recommendation from your high school journalism adviser or other instructor familiar with your writing abilities. If you have had a professional internship or attended a journalism workshop outside your high school, you may instead submit a letter of recommendation from your supervisor in that program.

Deadline: Your application must be postmarked by March 28, 2008. All materials, including samples and recommendation letters should be submitted with this application by the deadline. The College of Communications Scholarship Committee will not review incomplete application packets.
Withdrawal Policy: If a scholarship recipient withdraws from Penn State or changes to a major other than journalism, the student will no longer be eligible for this scholarship.
Renewal Policy: The scholarships are automatically renewed each year if the students maintain overall satisfactory academic progress; at least a "B" average in the journalism major; and a satisfactory record of personal conduct. The maximum number of years a student can receive this scholarship is four years. The College of Communication's Scholarship Committee will consider all aspects of renewal applications, including satisfactory progress toward a degree.

Send applications to:
Joseph M. Selden
Assistant Dean & Lecturer
Office of Multicultural Affairs
College of Communications
The Pennsylvania State University
208 Carnegie Building
University Park, PA 16802-5101
(814) 863-6081 (phone)
(814) 863-8044 (fax)