Scholarships

Megan Daley loved UMass. She wrote for the Daily Collegian and graduated with a degree in Journalism in 2006. She worked for WIS Publications in Dedham, MA, and, at the time of her death in 2013, she was the managing editor of SAP Insider Magazine. Her family established this scholarship in her memory.

Award: $4,000 (two $2,000 awards given)
Eligibility: Journalism majors from Massachusetts who have demonstrated financial need as determined by the financial aid office and have a minimum 3.3 grade point average.
Apply By: April 15, 2025

Rhonda Swan was a Journalism major who graduated in 1987 and became the first Black city editor at The Republican (Springfield) and later worked at The News Journal (Delaware) and The Palm Beach Post (Florida). She garnered numerous awards and much recognition during her career as a journalist, including from the New England Associated Press, the News Executive Association and the National Association of Black Journalists. Her family established this award in her memory.
 
Award: $1,000
Eligibility: Journalism majors in good academic standing are eligible to apply. Strong preference will be given to students who are underrepresented in the Journalism Department, especially those from Springfield, MA.
Apply By: April 15, 2025

The Karen List Award for Excellence in Student Reporting is named after longtime journalism professor Karen List. Her devotion to her students, ethical journalism, and excellence in student media spanned generations. Regardless of genre, winning entries of this award will demonstrate the best principles of journalistic practice by exhibiting intelligent and ethical reporting in service of their local community.
 
Award: $750
Eligibility: Current UMass Amherst journalism majors who has published any kind of work in a student or professional outlet. All written, visual, broadcast or multimedia work published in the past calendar year before the application’s due date will be considered.
Apply By: April 15, 2025

The UMass Journalism Community Storytelling Award is designed to highlight student work that embodies the best traditions of journalism, public relations, and media scholarship in representing diverse voices and communities. 

The scope of original student-authored work that can be submitted for consideration to this competitive award is broad. It might include works of journalism published (e.g. textual, visual, audio and/or multimedia stories) in student or professional media, as well as academic papers and essays, published scholarly research, or public relations campaigns.
 
Award: $750
Eligibility: All UMass journalism majors are eligible. All written, visual, broadcast or multimedia work completed in the past calendar year before the application’s due date will be considered.
Apply By: April 15, 2025

Robert Crowley was a Journalism major and Collegian columnist who graduated in 1982. He wrote columns for the New Bedford Standard Times until his death in an automobile accident.

Award: $500
Eligibility: Any published Collegian columnist enrolled in a degree program at UMass Amherst. Submissions must be published during the 2023-2024 academic year. Previous winners are not eligible.
Apply By: April 15, 2025

Lawrence “Larry” Pinkham was chair of the Journalism Department from 1976 to 1981 and a faculty member until his retirement in 1991. He also taught in China and India, where he helped establish English-language journalism programs at major academic institutions. This scholarship honors Pinkham’s international work by helping a Journalism major who is studying abroad.

Award: $1,000
Eligibility: Journalism majors studying abroad in the next academic year.
Apply By: April 15, 2025

One $2,000 award will support a journalism major who has secured an unpaid or underpaid internship on or off campus in journalism or public relations for the upcoming summer. This scholarship is made available through the Journalism Internship Fund.

Award: $2,000
Eligibility: Journalism majors with an unpaid or underpaid internship during the upcoming summer who have demonstrated financial need as determined by the financial aid office and have a minimum 2.5 grade point average.
Apply By: April 15, 2025

There are between 2-3 scholarships available through the Scott J. Bacherman Fund, each starting at $2300. 

The Bacherman award is available for students who have secured internships in media fields such as, but not limited to, print, broadcast, convergent, digital, emerging or cross-platform or those who have secured internships in journalism, sports, entertainment or public relations. One scholarship will be awarded to a journalism major, and another scholarship may be awarded to any major within the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. 

Award: 2-3 awards starting at $2300 
Eligibility: Journalism majors and students of any major in the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences. Preference will be given to students who have experience, paid or unpaid, in campus media including, but not limited to, WMUA, TV19, Daily Collegian or Amherst Wire. Eligible recipients must have demonstrated financial need as determined by the financial aid office and have a minimum 3.0 grade point average.
Apply By: April 15, 2025

Established by UMass alumni Sean (Journalism ’85) and Jayne (Nursing ’85) Dandley, the Dandley Internships Awards will go to Journalism majors who have unpaid internships during the upcoming summer or academic year. By giving this generous award, the Dandley Family wishes to signal the critical importance of journalism in democracy: journalism internships deserve funding at a level commensurate with internships in the STEM fields. Sean Dandley, the CEO of DSCI Corporation in Waltham, MA, and Jayne Dandley are also the benefactors of the Dandley Technology Endowment.

Award: Two awards of $5,000 each 
Eligibility: Journalism majors with an unpaid internship during the upcoming summer or academic year who have demonstrated financial need as determined by the financial aid office and have a minimum 3.0 grade point average. Preference will be given to students participating in UMass ROTC or the military.
Apply By: April 15, 2025

The Thomas Family Scholarship is awarded to a Journalism major who has an unpaid or underpaid internship in the field of emergent media. Elisa Thomas, class of ’95, and her family have established this scholarship to encourage students to work in new media—websites, blogs, social media, etc.

Award: $1,800
Eligibility: Journalism majors with an internship in emergent media who have demonstrated financial need as determined by the financial aid office and have a minimum 3.0 grade point average.
Apply By: April 15, 2025

Milt Cole was a sports writer and editor for The Daily Hampshire Gazette from 1969 to 1993. He died at age 69 and his friends and family set up this memorial to him. Cole’s great passions were the Boston Red Sox and the UMass men’s basketball team. His colleagues remember him as a generous mentor who offered encouragement and advice to young reporters and editors and who believed in the importance of community journalism.

The Milt Cole Memorial Scholarship helps students interested in a career in newspaper journalism. Students who completed an internship at a daily newspaper in the summer or fall may be eligible for financial support for expenses. To be eligible, students must be a junior or senior Journalism major with a 3.0 GPA or above. Priority will be given to students who are interested in pursuing a career in newspaper journalism who have financial need. 

Award: $2,500
Eligibility: Journalism majors with an internship at a daily newspaper who have demonstrated financial need as determined by the financial aid office and have a minimum 3.0 grade point average.
Apply By: April 15, 2025