The Manship School of Mass Communication offers a strong scholarship program for entering freshmen and continuing students. The School offers more than $100,000 in scholarships each year in addition to other university awards. Students must be admitted to LSU with a mass communication major in order to be considered for the mass communication scholarships listed below.
Entering freshmen apply for LSU and mass communication scholarships through the LSU admissions application online. When you complete your application and choose mass communication as a major, you will also complete an activities and awards section that becomes your scholarship application. The priority deadline for all scholarships (including mass communication scholarships) at LSU is November 15. The final deadline for all mass communication freshmen scholarships is early spring. Current students apply for LSU and mass comm scholarships through PAWS. Students will receive a reminder email from the school to their PAWS email accounts reminding them to apply. Once students complete the application form, they are considered for all LSU and Manship School continuing student scholarships.
In addition to the scholarships offered by the Manship School, LSU offers a large variety of undergraduate scholarships. Consult the LSU General Catalog for additional information or check the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships site.
Scholarships for new freshmen
John Blanchard "Top 100" Scholarship and Lillian Boudier "Top 100" Scholarship
Part of the LSU Alumni Association Scholarship program, these awards are administered by the LSU Office of Student Aid and Scholarships to entering freshmen who plan to major in mass communication and are among the top 100 entering students at LSU. The awards include a cash scholarship from the LSU Alumni Association of $8,000 ($2,000 per year) over a four-year period and an offer to participate in either the Chancellor's Student Aide or Chancellor's Future Leaders Research Programs and earn up to $6,200 ($1,550 per year). Non-resident students also receive a tuition exemption scholarship.
The Luke S. Bashore Memorial Scholarship
Randy and Gail Bashore of Fork Union, Va. established a scholarship in memory of their son, Luke, an LSU Manship School junior, who died in an automobile accident in 2008. The four-year scholarship is for out-of state students interested in broadcast journalism or digital media communication. “Luke truly loved being a part of the Manship School,” said Gail Bashore, Luke’s mother. “He would be pleased to know that many students are going to benefit in the future from this scholarship.”
Albert and Virginia Bunch Memorial Scholarship
Established by Martha Bunch in memory of her parents, this scholarship is awarded each fall to a full-time freshman who plans to major in mass communication. The recipient must retain a 2.5/4.0 grade point average. The award is renewable for up to four years and is limited to earnings from the endowment.
Katheryn Pate Callahan Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to a full-time freshman enrolled in the Manship School. The recipient is selected annually and must have an interest in print journalism. Financial need is also a consideration.
Freeport-McMoran Minority Scholarship
Funded by Freeport-McMoran, this one-year scholarship of $500 per semester or $1000 per year is awarded to an incoming freshman who is recognized by federal guidelines as a member of a minority group. The student must be a mass communications major with a commitment to a professional career in mass communication.
Walter Hitesman Endowed Scholarships
To honor Walter Hitesman, a 1939 graduate of LSU's School of Journalism who was named president and chief executive officer of Reader's Digest in 1973, these awards were established by the Reader's Digest Foundation. To be eligible for one of these three $500 scholarships, students must have financial need and show great promise as journalists.
Roland and Malva Huson Scholarship
Awarded to a full-time undergraduate student majoring in mass communication with journalistic promise and financial need, the Roland and Malva Huson scholarship gives preference to students concentrating in print journalism. The amount of the award is approximately $400 and is limited to the amount of earnings on an endowment. No awards are available for the summer term.
Manship Scholars
Funded by members of the Manship family, publishers of Baton Rouge's daily newspaper, the Manship Scholars program provides outstanding students who are majoring in mass communication with funds to cover tuition, some expenses, and most fees. To be eligible, students must have a superior scholastic record and an ACT composite score of at least 26. The scholarship is renewable for up to eight semesters. Students must maintain a 3.33/4.0 LSU grade point average as a major in mass communication.
Scholarships for sophomores, juniors and seniors
Patricia Wilson Baldridge Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship, named after an Advocate journalist, is designated for a junior or senior woman, with at least one more term before graduation, majoring in mass communication. A 3.2/4.0 grade point average is required; a strong record of extracurricular activities and financial need will be considered in the selection process. The award is for one year only. Recipients cannot receive other scholarships.
Pete Beardsley Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to a full-time undergraduate student who will be classified as a senior for the fall semester at LSU concentrating in journalism. The recipient must demonstrate financial need and academic excellence.
John Henderson Cade Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Designed to support a print or broadcast communications major, this scholarship is awarded to a full-time undergraduate student. The recipient must have an overall grade point average of 3.0, display talent and enthusiasm for writing and demonstrate financial need. Recipients may receive this scholarship for up to four years as long as the student maintains the eligibility requirements.
Luke S. Bashore Traveling Scholar Award
This award will support a student for a semester who studies abroad, in Washington, D.C. or at News 21 at Arizona State University. The deadline to apply is October 1st for the following year. The application should include a resume and an essay explaining the need for the scholarship and the importance of their study away from LSU. Bashore Scholars will be required to submit a final report to the dean and the donors.
Robert Ewing Honor Scholarships
Designed to recognize outstanding students who are enrolled in mass communication, the Robert Ewing Honor Scholarships will recognize at least six continuing students who have a 3.5 grade point average or higher and whose performance demonstrates their aptitude in mass communication by rewarding them with a scholarship for at least $400 per semester, renewable for up to two years. In cases where need is demonstrated, additional funds may be available. To qualify, students must be enrolled in the School, have completed at least 45 college-level hours, and have demonstrated outstanding performance in mass communication courses. Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis and are renewable for up to two years. Students must maintain a 3.5 LSU grade point average to renew the scholarship and must remain mass communication majors. Exceptions to criteria can be made by the dean of the School.
James S. Featherston Scholarship
The James S. Featherston Scholarship is awarded to a full-time student classified as a junior in the Manship School of Mass Communication. Recipients must have an interest in print journalism, including working for a daily newspaper, magazine, trade publication, public relations journal or other publication. Recipients must have a grade-point average of at least 3.0. This is a one-time award.
Guaranty Broadcasting Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to a full-time undergraduate student in the Manship School who is concentrating in journalism and has an interest in broadcasting. Financial need is also a consideration. This scholarship is awarded annually.
Benjamin F. Leeper Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship, established by the friends and family of Benjamin F. Leeper, is intended for a student majoring in mass communication who is interested in photography.
Bill Lynch Memorial Scholarship
The Bill Lynch Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to a full-time undergraduate student who is a senior in the Manship School of Mass Communication with a concentration in journalism. The recipient must demonstrate financial need and academic excellence.
Nancy Norris Memorial Scholarship
To be considered for the award, students must be full-time undergraduates in mass communication with an overall grade point average of at least 3.0/4.0. The scholarship is limited to one year; however, students may reapply. The amount of the award varies and is limited to fall and spring semesters.
Bryan Putman Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship was established by the friends and family of Bryan Putman, a 1943 graduate of the LSU School of Journalism. In order to be considered, a student must be classified as a sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student majoring in mass communication. Undergraduates must have an earned grade point average of 3.0/4.0 and demonstrate financial need. Graduate students must have an earned LSU grade point average of 3.5/4.0. The recipient must be an enrolled full-time student unless financial need requires part-time enrollment. The amount of the award is limited to the amount of earnings on an endowment. No awards are available for the summer term.
Melvin and Charlotte Schexnayder Scholarship Fund
One scholarship is awarded each year to an outstanding incoming freshman or a sophomore or junior enrolled full-time in mass communication and majoring in print journalism. The amount of the award varies and is limited to one year. No awards are available for the summer term. Students may reapply.
Joseph N. Silverberg Memorial Scholarship
The purpose of this scholarship, established in memory of Joseph N. Silverberg, is to assist a Louisiana high school graduate majoring in news-editorial journalism. In order to be considered, a student must be classified as a senior in the news-editorial curriculum and must have a grade-point average of at least 3.00/4.0. The amount of the award varies and is limited to one year. No awards are available for the summer term.
Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center
This scholarship is awarded annually to a full-time undergraduate or graduate student in the Manship School of Mass Communication with interest in a career related to health news. Recipients may be selected to receive this award more than once.
Barbara Calvit Rogers
Friends and family of Barbara Cavit Rogers established this scholarship to support a junior or senior in the Manship School of Mass Communication conentrating in journalism. Recipients may retain this scholarship for more than one year, but not after the student receives his or her undergraduate degree, if funds are available and eligibility requirements are met.
Patrick J. Sorrells Scholarship
Established in memory of Patrick J. Sorrells, this scholarship is awarded to a full-time undergraduate student classified as a sophomore, junior, or senior with an expressed interest in advertising sales. Preference is given to a student who has demonstrated leadership skills and community service. The award is renewable and is limited to earnings from the endowment. No awards are made for the summer term.
Byron St. Dizier Endowed Scholarship
Established by the family of Dr. Byron St. Dizier, former editor of the LSU Daily Reveille and a dedicated teacher of journalism, this award recognizes a student who is classified as a full-time senior in the Manship School of Mass Communication and who demonstrates the ability for and commitment to print or broadcast journalism. The amount of the award varies and is limited to one year. No awards are available for the summer term.
Bart Swanson Memorial Award
Awarded annually to an undergraduate or graduate student who is majoring or planning to major in mass communication. Preference will be given to mass communication majors eager to learn professional sports reporting. The scholarship is renewable. No awards are given for the summer term. The amount of the award varies.
Jean Wheeler Memorial Scholarship
Established in memory of Baton Rouge television personality, actress and community leader Jean Wheeler, this scholarship is awarded to a female student entering her senior year in the fall semester at LSU, Southern University or Baton Rouge Community College in journalism/mass communication, theater or a related media field. Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 overall and 3.0 in their major. The award is for $1000, with $500 for the fall semester and $500 for the spring semester.
Other scholarship opportunities
Johns Memorial Scholarship
Established in memory of John Wright Johns and Bessie McCrary Johns, this scholarship is awarded to a Mass Communication major who has an interest in agricultural journalism and takes electives in agriculture-related biological sciences or other agriculture-related courses. The award for approximately $1,500 per year is made by the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center.
Tiger Athletic Foundation Scholarships
The Tiger Athletic Foundation provides several undergraduate student scholarships annually. Requests may be made through the Student Award Entry system. Contact Michelle Torres, Office of Student Aid and Scholarships, 225-587-6002.
WRKF Scholarship
Students majoring in mass communication at LSU and Southern University are eligible for this scholarship if they have at least a 2.75 grade point average and have earned 60-90 hours. Students should apply directly to WRKF.