SMAD - Scholarships

The Byrd-Mims Journalism Scholarships were enhanced in 2009 by a $250,000 donation to JMU’s journalism scholarship endowment, from the late Virginia Senator Harry F. Byrd Jr., whose family owned Harrisonburg’s Daily News-Record/Rockingham Publishing. The scholarships honor their benefactor, Sen. Byrd, and his longtime friend and associate D. Lathan Mims, who helped coordinate the senator’s campaigns, and who served for many years as editor and general manager of the Daily News-Record.

Through a competitive application process in Spring 2020, JMU’s School of Media Arts & Design will name its fourth Byrd-Mims Scholar. A $10,000 scholarship will be awarded to the most promising journalism student who enters JMU as a freshman in Fall 2020. The award, which will be made in four annual installments of $2,500, will recognize the student’s demonstrated commitment to journalism and promise of high journalistic and academic achievement at JMU.

The student selected for the Byrd-Mims scholarship also will receive the competitive Madison Award for Academic Excellence, which provides academic funding of approximately $6,000 per year. In addition, the Byrd-Mims scholar will be directly and fully admitted as a journalism concentration major in the School of Media Arts & Design.

The Byrd-Mims Scholar must enroll for a minimum of 12 hours each semester, maintain a 3.0 JMU grade-point average, and participate continuously in the JMU student media.

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In memory of their daughter, Alison, Barbara and Andy Parker honored her passion for journalism with an endowed scholarship. Before her life was tragically cut short, Alison pursued the print and broadcast tracks in SMAD with great verve and vigor, serving as an editor for The Breeze, landing two broadcast TV internships and, after graduation, flourishing as a broadcast reporter and anchor in Jacksonville, N.C., and Roanoke, Va.

In Spring 2020, SMAD will award a competitive, four-year scholarship for an exemplary incoming freshman who shares Alison Parker's deep passion for journalism and commitment to academic excellence. The Parker Scholar will receive a $2,500 annual scholarship and full admission to the SMAD major and its journalism concentration. In addition, the Parker Scholar will automatically qualify for JMU's Madison Award for Academic Excellence, which provides annual funding of at least $5,000.

The Parker Scholarship is renewable up to three years for freshman recipients as long as they remain in the SMAD major's journalism concentration. To continue the award, the recipients must maintain a 3.0 grade-point average, enroll in at least 12 hours per semester, and be continuously involved in the JMU student media. There is no financial-need component to this scholarship.

Available for incoming freshmen

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The Byrd-Mims Journalism Scholarships were enhanced in 2009 by a $250,000 donation to JMU’s journalism scholarship endowment, from the late Virginia Senator Harry F. Byrd Jr., whose family owned Harrisonburg’s Daily News-Record/Rockingham Publishing. The scholarships honor their benefactor, Sen. Byrd, and his longtime friend and associate D. Lathan Mims, who helped coordinate the senator’s campaigns, and who served for many years as editor and general manager of the Daily News-Record.

In 2020, a scholarship that has averaged $3,000 will be awarded to the most deserving JMU journalism student. The award is based on commitment to journalism, high academic achievement and possibly financial need. Students may apply as a rising senior. An awardee is expected to enroll for a minimum of 12 hours each semester during the year s/he receives the scholarship. Typically, the scholarship is awarded to a Media Arts & Design major studying journalism. However, the selection committee also considers other evidence of commitment to the profession, including journalism-related coursework, work with campus print media and professional journalism internships. The selection committee may interview finalists for the award.

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In 2008 the Digital Video Group, Inc. established a scholarship for outstanding undergraduate student scholars majoring in Media Arts & Design at James Madison University. The scholarship honors the memory of Donnie E. Mongold, a longtime JMU employee. 

The scholarship, which is $1,200 on average, is based on academic achievement and is awarded to a rising junior or rising senior in any SMAD concentration.

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The John Woody One Day/One University SMAD Scholarship is endowed from funds directly earned from special productions by digital video and cinema students in the School of Media Arts and Design.

The scholarship, which is $1,200 on average, is awarded to a rising senior in either the Digital Video and Cinema or Interactive Design concentration, based on commitment to media production and academic achievement.

Typically, applicants must have completed or be currently enrolled in SMAD 302 or SMAD 307. The selection committee also considers other evidence of commitment to the profession, including media production activities such as internships or practica.

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The Madison Cinema Studies Scholarship is endowed by the late Hollywood screenwriter Don Rhymer and his wife Kate, both JMU alumni. The award is based on academic performance and possibly financial need. 

The scholarship, which is $1,800 on average, is awarded to a rising junior or rising senior in the Digital Video and Cinema concentration.

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Established to honor Alan Neckowitz, who was instrumental in founding the Summer in Ireland Study Abroad Program. This account will receive contributions to assist with the expenses of at least one School of Media Arts & Design (SMAD) major studying abroad each year. The awards committee will give first priority to a student with a record of outstanding academic and co-curricular achievement who is enrolled in a program that is taught or directed by a member of the SMAD faculty.

The $500 award is based on academic achievement (financial need is not a consideration).

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Established in 2011, the SMAD Alumni/Professional Advisory Council Scholarships are based on academic achievement. One scholarship that has averaged $1400 will be awarded. Fully admitted SMAD majors in any concentration may apply. 

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The Madison Screenwriting Scholarship Competition is open to undergraduates majoring in English, Theater or SMAD. 

Submit the following information for consideration:

• One PDF of a short screenplay

• 20 pages or fewer in proper screenplay format

All scripts must be original work — no adaptations.

Screenplay format guide: https://www.storysense.com/format.htm

Approximate Award Amount:

1st Place $1250

2nd Place $750

Due: 5 p.m. Friday, March 5

For more information, contact Professor Imelda O'Reilly at oreillix@jmu.edu.

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In Spring 2017 and annually thereafter the SMAD Scholarship Committee, in consultation with the journalism faculty, will consider awarding one $3,000 merit-based scholarship to a SMAD major with an outstanding record in journalism. The winner will be a rising senior who is a full-time student, preferably with a grade-point average of at least 3.0. Following the example of Alison Parker, a strong record of involvement in journalism-related extracurricular activities, such as The Breeze, Bluestone or internships is required. If the Scholarship Committee makes no award in a given year, the income earmarked for the award will be reinvested in the scholarship.    

No application process.

The Blanche Garrett Memorial Scholarship is funded by a donation from Dr. George Johnson and Dr. Marilou Johnson for students newly admitted into the Media Arts & Design major.

The award, which has averaged $1,500, is made based on the scores on the school's admission test for 2018-2020, financial need and grade-point-average.

No application process.

The De Luca Journalism Scholarships were created in 2008 in memory of Prof. Albert “Flip” De Luca of the School of Media Arts and Design, and his late father, Albert D. De Luca, a longtime publisher with Ottaway Newspapers Inc., a division of Dow Jones.

Scholarships will be awarded to editors of The Breeze. Awardees must complete the full academic year in these positions to receive the full amount of the award.

No application process

On behalf of the friends, alumni and faculty of James Madison University, this endowed scholarship fund has been created in honor of Dr. David Wendelken, who served the university and its journalism students for 40 years, and in memory of Albert "Flip" De Luca, who passed away in 2008 after 29 years at the university. Both individuals played a significant role in many students' lives and started them on their careers.

When the scholarship fund is fully endowed, the Wendelken-De Luca Endowed Scholarships will be presented each year to a rising junior or senior in the Journalism concentration, with a preference to students serving on the university sponsored student newspaper (The Breeze) or student magazine (Curio) staff.