The Best Writing Scholarships of 2020

The Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA) annually sponsors the Bodie McDowell Scholarship program to support tomorrow’s communicators. Ideal candidates are talented communicators with outdoor interests who can demonstrate a record of accomplishment in and commitment to the fields of outdoor communications.

AWM Austin is proud to award scholarships to college students studying media (or a related field) at a university in the Austin area. Each applicant must include a personal statement stating their area of study and how this scholarship will further their career and educational goals.

The Foundation awards a scholarship each year to a South Carolina college student interested in pursuing a newspaper career. The premier scholarship, worth $1,000 per academic year, is named for the Foundation’s first president, the late Frank R. Mundy of the Greenwood Index-Journal.

The Seattle Public Library Foundation is pleased to host the Stimson Bullitt Civic Courage Scholarship competition. High school seniors and undergraduate students who live, work, or attend school in Seattle are invited to participate. The competition asks students to write an essay about an individual or group of individuals from Washington state who have demonstrated civic courage on an issue of importance to the community at great personal, political or professional risk.

Awarded to a student pursuing a career in television journalism. Funded by a grant from CBS News in honor of longtime correspondent Mike Wallace. Students must complete the online application, including a personal essay and samples of their work.

This scholarship is awarded to daughters of career-commissioned officers in the United States armed services. Applications are due by March 15 of the student’s senior year in high school. The application process includes: an essay, a secondary school report, a letter of recommendation from a member of the applicant’s community, and a Student Aid Report (SAR).

These JEA scholarships recognize some of the top high school journalists in the country. The contest begins at the state level. Winning portfolios from state Journalist of the Year competitions are sent to the national level. Deadlines vary from state to state, so check with your JEA State Director for contest information specific to your state, including where to send your entry.

The $6,000 Stoody-West Fellowships in religious journalism are offered in recognition of Dr. Ralph Stoody and Dr. Arthur West, who were leaders in public relations and information services in the United Methodist Church. Each application should include a personal essay and samples of your journalistic work.

The Leonard M. Perryman Communications Scholarship for Racial Ethnic Minority Students awards a $2,500 scholarship for the undergraduate study of religion journalism or mass communications. It recognizes of the work of Leonard M. Perryman, a renowned journalist for the United Methodist Church. Each application should include a personal essay and samples of your journalistic work.

For this year's competition, please write an essay (1,500 words or less) exploring one legal argument defending the constitutionality of Montana's "No Aid" provision, or rebutting one argument that the clause is unconstitutional. The Cornelius Vanderbrook Essay Competition is open to all ongoing law school students attending a North American law school.