The National Communication Association invites undergraduate students to apply and compete for the NCA Legacy Scholarship. The NCA Legacy Scholarship seeks to broaden the Communication discipline’s relevance to various publics by providing a $1,000 scholarship to a local undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Communication, Journalism, or related program within the host city/region where the NCA Annual Convention is being held. A $250 award will go to the runner up. For 2020, the scholarship award will be competitively given to a student based on an essay related to communication and civic responsibility. The theme-related speech portion of the scholarship has been suspended due to continued concerns over COVID-19.
There are several criteria for award eligibility:
- Applicant must be an undergraduate student, (preference given to self-identified first-generation college students), with at least one year of postsecondary education remaining at an accredited college or university.
- Applicant must be attending a college or university within the city/region where the NCA Annual Convention was scheduled to be held – this means within a fifty-mile radius of Indianapolis, IN.
- Applicant must be pursuing a degree in Communication, Journalism, or related program.
- Applicant must have a 3.0 GPA or higher.
- Applicant must not have received this award previously.
The first-place winner of the essay competition will receive an engraved plaque. The plaque will be personalized and mailed to the winner. The first-place winner will also receive a $1,000 monetary scholarship award. The runner-up will receive a $250 monetary award. Winner and non-winner notifications will go out in early November.
Submission Information
Nominations must be sent submitted through the NCA website. Self-nominations are encouraged.
The nomination materials are due by Monday, October 12, 2020 and must include the following:
- A cover letter indicating nominee’s qualifications, interest in civic responsibility and readiness for a career in communication
- A letter of recommendation from an instructor, advisor or department chair
- A short essay (maximum 750 words) related to communication and civic responsibility on the following: “What can communication scholars and students contribute to understanding and improving contemporary U.S. society as we negotiate the cultural crossroads of systemic racism, widespread protests, and increasing political polarization?”
- A résumé or CV indicating any work, community service, and extracurricular leadership experiences.
Deadline for applications is October 12. Any questions about the Legacy Scholarship may be sent to inbox@natcom.org.
Legacy Scholarship Selection Committee:
- Niya Pickett Miller, Chair
- James Cherney, Diversity Council Representative
- Roseann Mandziuk, NCA Second Vice-President