"National Association of Hispanic Journalists"

Who is eligible to apply for NAHJ scholarships?

Current high school seniors, college undergraduates and first-year graduate students who are pursuing careers as print, photo, broadcast or online journalists. Each scholarship has different requirements for eligibility. Please carefully review each to determine which ones you qualify for.

Students must plan to attend a community college or university that is within the United States or Puerto Rico full-time for the entire academic year in order to be awarded an NAHJ scholarship. Students who attend or plan to attend colleges or universities outside of the United States or Puerto Rico are not eligible for NAHJ scholarships.

What applicants should submit?
Applicants should submit two (2) copies of the following IN ONE PACKAGE:

1.Official school transcripts in sealed envelopes. If you have attended more than one school, a transcript is required from each institution unless grades from the previous school (s) appear on the present transcript.

2.A one page résumé listing your educational background, work history, awards, journalism-related internships, other scholarships, language proficiency and any work done for your school or community newspaper, radio and/or television.

3.Two reference letters in separate sealed envelopes from people who are familiar with your academic and/or journalism work. Examples: professors, counselors, employers, faculty advisors, etc.). Letters from relatives will not be accepted.

4.Print, television, radio or photo work samples. Please limit to four. (Explanation of work samples.)

5.Autobiographical essay written in the third person as a news story. Essay should be typed, double-spaced and not exceeding 1000-words. Essay should address the following:

- Why are you interested in a career in the field of journalism?
- What event, story, person, experience, etc., inspired you to want to pursue a career in this field?
- What hardships or obstacles have you experienced while trying to realize your goal of becoming a journalist?
- What role, if any, do Latino journalists play in the news industry?

6.A copy of your parents' W-2 Form. This documentation will help the NAHJ Scholarship Selection Committee to assess the scholarship applicant's financial need.

7.Typed, completed NAHJ scholarship application. In addition to gathering vital information about the applicant, the financial needs statement portion of the application is used by the NAHJ Scholarship Selection Committee to assess the scholarship applicant's financial need.

8.Only for Maria Elena Salinas Scholarship applicants: Applicants must submit along with their application package an essay in Spanish (written in the 3rd person as a news story) that explains why you seek a career as a Spanish-language broadcast journalist.