Each year, SMAD awards tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships to admitted SMAD students. Many of the funds have been set up by our successful and generous alumni, while some endowed scholarship funds have been established by or in honor of SMAD faculty members to help support the up-and-coming generation of media creators.. All of the scholarships are meant to recongize the hard work and talents of SMAD students.
Some of the scholarships require completing a SMAD scholarship application, while other deserving recipients are selected by faculty who serve on SMAD's Scholarship Committee.
Who is eligible to apply?
Any student who has already been admitted into the School of Media Arts and Design by the time of the application deadline. Seniors who are graduating in May aren't eligible to recieve scholarships. (Seniors who are participating in a summer study abroad program can be considered for the Neckowitz Study Abroad Scholarship as long as the student's graduation date is in August.)
How are recipients selected?
The SMAD faculty serving on the Scholarship Committee will evaluate candidates' applications for the competitive scholarships. The faculty on the Scholarship Committee and its subcomittees select recipients for the scholarships that don't require an application based on the criteria of that scholarship fund.
How are winners notified?
The SMAD director will notify winners in early April that they will be honored at the annual SMAD Awards Ceremony at the end of the Spring semester. Students won't learn what award they're recieving until that ceremony.
How does a student apply?
Madison Scholarships Hub is the application center for all JMU scholarships. To log in, go to MyMadison and under the “Student” tab, click on the logo for Madison Scholarships Hub. The scholarships are generally open from January until early March each year. Watch for posts about the deadline in Harrison Hall and on SMAD's Instagram account.
Byrd-Mims Journalism Scholarships
This scholarship, worth more than $5,000, is awarded to the most deserving rising senior JMU student journalist and is based on commitment to journalism, high academic achievement and possibly financial need. An awardee is expected to enroll for a minimum of 12 hours each semester during the year the student 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.
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 friend and associate D. Lathan Mims, who served for many years as editor and general manager of the Daily News-Record.
Digital Video Group, Inc. Scholarship
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. Donnie worked as a procurement officer and was responsible for negotiations with DVG to install SMAD’s TV studio. He died from cancer shortly after the studio installation and DVG named this scholarship in his honor.
The scholarship, which is typically worth $1,500-$1,700, is based on academic achievement and is awarded to a rising junior or rising senior in any SMAD concentration.
Madison Screenwriting Scholarship Competition
The Madison Screenwriting Scholarship Competition is open to undergraduates majoring in English, Theatre 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.
Approximate Award Amount:
- 1st Place $1,250
- 2nd Place $750
For more information, contact Prof. Imelda O'Reilly at oreillix@jmu.edu.
Madison Cinema Studies Scholarship
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 was $2,100 in 2022, is awarded to a rising junior or rising senior in the Digital Video and Cinema concentration.
SMAD Alumni/Professional Advisory Council
Established in 2011, the SMAD Alumni/Professional Advisory Council Scholarships are based on academic achievement. The scholarship was $1,700 in 2022. Fully admitted SMAD majors in any concentration may apply.
The Neckowitz Study Abroad Scholarship
Established to honor Alan Neckowitz, who was instrumental in founding the Summer in Ireland Study Abroad Program. This award will help with expenses of at least one SMAD major studying abroad each year. The awards committee will give 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 award, which was $1,000 in 2022, is based on academic achievement (financial need is not a consideration).
John Woody One Day / One University Scholarship
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 was $1,400 in 2022, 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 enrolled in SMAD 302 or SMAD 307. The selection committee also considers applicants’ commitment to the profession, including media production activities, such as internships.
Alison Bailey Parker ('12) Memorial Journalism Scholarship
In Spring 2017 and annually thereafter the SMAD Scholarship Committee, in consultation with the journalism faculty, will consider awarding one $2,300 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.
James Acosta Scholarship for Excellence in Media
Starting in fall 2019, longtime CNN reporter and anchor Jim Acosta established the $5,000 James Acosta Scholarship for Excellence in Media to recognize and support an exemplary journalism student. Acosta, a 1993 alumnus, covered numerous presidential campaigns and served as CNN’s chief White House correspondent. Most recently, he works as the network’s weekend anchor and chief domestic correspondent. Students do not apply for this award. A winner is nominated and selected by faculty.
No application process.
Lindsay A. Czarniak Scholarship
Lindsay Czarniak, a 2000 graduate, and her husband, NBC journalist Craig Melvin, funded this scholarship to support our students. Lindsay, a national sports journalist, has reported on football, NASCAR and from the Olympics and multiple Super Bowls. Her career since JMU has taken her from Washington’s NBC station to ESPN’S Sports Center, then to Fox Sports. The scholarship honors and supports a student active in student media. Students do not apply for this award. SMAD faculty select a winner.
No application process.
Sean T. Harrington Scholarship
The Sean T. Harrington Scholarship is awarded to a student nominated by a faculty member for their outstanding work and contributions in SMAD.
Sean Harrington, a 1996 alumnus, along with his husband Trevor Rutkowski established this scholarship, which was first awarded in 2023. Sean is Senior Solutions Consultant focusing on solving customer challenges in the converged media marketplace. He has held key roles at WideOrbit in Product Management, Business Analysis, and Implementation for the company’s domestic and international sales lines since 2010. His three-decade sales career includes positions as an Account Executive with Arbitron/Nielsen Advertiser-Agency Services, Audacy, Jefferson-Pilot Communications, and The Walt Disney Company / ABC.
No application process.
Imre Awards
David Imre, a 1979 alumnus, is founder of Imre, a creative marketing and communications firm with offices in New York, LA, Baltimore and Philadelphia. He funded this scholarship, which was first awarded in 2021. The Imre Awards recognize two students, one in Creative Advertising and the other in Interactive Design, who show exceptional professional promise and creative accomplishment through their work in SMAD. Students do not apply for these awards. They are nominated and selected by faculty.
No application process.
Blanche Garrett Memorial Scholarship
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 averages about $2,000, is made based on the scores on the school's admission test for 2018-2020, financial need and grade-point-average.
No application process.
Wendelken-De Luca Endowed Scholarship in Journalism
On behalf of the friends, alumni
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
Dr. Roger Soenksen First Amendment Scholarship
This scholarship recognizes one deserving student each year who demonstrates a commitment to the foundational freedoms on which media creators rely, including free speech and a free press.
The fund honors SMAD's longest-tenured faculty member, Dr. Roger Soenksen, who retired in 2026 after 49 years at JMU. As everyone who has had Dr. Soenksen in class knows, one of the best ways to protect those freedoms is to exercise them. Dr. Soenksen's colleagues and former students set up the fund.
Eligible students must be admitted into SMAD and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. A successful candidate will have demonstrated leadership in mentoring and supporting fellow students through student media, community outreach or public services. A preference is given to students who demonstrate financial need as determined by the JMU Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
Applicants must submit an essay underscoring the imporrtance of the principles articulated in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Dr. George Johnson Memorial Scholarship
This $2,500 scholarship honors the memory of longtime SMAD faculty member, Dr. George Johnson. Dr. Johnson, who died in 2025, taught at JMU for 32 years and was among the faculty who founded the School of Media Arts and Design in the 1990s. He served as the school's first director.
The scholarship, set up by the Johnson family, is aimed at supporting a SMAD student from any concentration who excels at multimedia storytelling and exemplifies the traits of servant leadership, which Dr. Johnson exhibited throughout his time teaching in SMAD.
No application process.
