Published on December 18, 2008 by Mary Wimberley  

The Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at Samford University will offer seven partial scholarships to incoming freshmen this fall.

Bernie Ankney, chair of journalism and mass communication at Samford, says the scholarships will be worth $2,000 per year. The scholarships 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 $8,000 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. Moreover, at SEJC, 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 call Ankney at (205) 726-2948 for an application. They may also email him at rnankney@samford.edu.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.