The IUPUI Journalism Emerging Scholars Program
We continue to review Emerging Scholar Program applications for Fall 2009. This review will continue until all 20 positions are filled. The final date we can accept applications is April 30.
As candidates are selected, they will be notified individually. The Emerging Scholars Program (ESP) is available to bright high school students from Indiana, other states and countries to study journalism, public relations or advertising. A cohort of 20 students will be invited to participate in the program, which includes a partial scholarship for up to four years. This program is the School of Journalism’s Honors Program.
ESP students continue throughout their tenure at IUPUI as a unique cohort. The cohort will work together for the four years and will be provided unique journalism experiences beyond coursework and regular university activities.
Over the course of each of the eight semesters, the scholars attend social/intellectual events designed specifically and exclusively for them. They are also invited to all events hosted by the School, the Journalism Student Organization and the Public Relations Student Society of America.
These activities may include Friday half-day seminars, afternoon visits to media centers or Public Relations organizations or evening speaker events.
An example of the special events in the first year looks something like this:
| Month | Event |
|---|---|
| August | Welcome reception for students and families in Student Media Center |
| September | Visit to Indianapolis Star |
| October | Meeting/Reception with Alumni prior to Dean’s Reception and Open House |
| November | Visit to major Indianapolis Public Relations and/or Advertising Agency |
| December | Holiday Reception with Dean and alumni |
| January | Visit to Emmis Broadcasting |
| February | Visit to the Indiana Statehouse |
| March | Spring Break trip to Chicago |
| April | Visit to local television station newsroom |
The program begins in the fall of 2009. The first cohort of students (as Freshmen) will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship for the academic year, the next year (Sophomore) they will receive $1,300, the third year (Junior) $1,600 and their final year (Senior) $2,000.
A specific faculty member of the School of Journalism will act as the advisor and sponsor for the cohort throughout their tenure at IUPUI.
The unique journalism experiences may be a spring break trip to Chicago the first year with visits to the Chicago Tribune and/or Chicago Sun-Times or other media outlets, and public relations students may visit a major corporate PR office and/or public relations agency. Alumni in the area will be invited to meet the scholars at a reception.
In the second year the students may take a spring break trip to Washington, D.C. where they will learn about the United States government and how to work with politicians. They may visit such places as the White House, Capitol, monuments, Arlington Cemetery, National Press Club. The ESP scholars will possibly meet with local politicians, journalists, and public relations professionals. The scholars will meet Washington area alumni at a reception.
During the summer of the third year ESP scholars in journalism may take a class such as International News Gathering and will travel to one of the following countries: South Korea, Chile, Japan, China or some other country of interest at that time. PR ESP scholars may take Public Relations in a Global Environment and travel to China.
During the fourth and last year of the program ESP scholars may travel to places such as New York or San Francisco during spring break. There they may visit places such as the New York Times, network television stations, the Wall Street Journal, National Geographic, publishing houses, San Francisco Chronicle, PR agencies and visit with alumni in the area.
Admissions Criteria
To apply as a Journalism Emerging Scholar, student should have a high school GPA of 3.3 (out of a 4.0 scale) and score 1150 or higher on the SAT or 25 on the ACT. To stay in the program, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA.
Application Process
Get the application form.
Initial application review begins on February 28 and continues through March 30 or until all 20 positions are filled.
For more information, contact:
Robert E. Dittmer, APR
Honors Program Director
IU School of Journalism at IUPUI
535 W. Michigan Street, IT 567
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Click to email me
317.278.5327
www.journalism.iupui.edu/Scholars
