We believe everyone should have an opportunity to attend the MIPA Summer Journalism Workshop. That’s why MIPA works with our partners and supporters to raise scholarships for students to attend our summer program. You can help our efforts by making a tax-deductible donation.
Individual students may also raise money to attend the workshop by using SponsorMe, MIPA’s online crowd-funding tool students can use to raise money from family, friends and other people they know. We’ve also got ideas to help students raise money.
Deadline for scholarship applications: June 1. No exceptions.
We will notify all applicants by phone, letter or email within two weeks of the scholarship deadline about whether they have been awarded a scholarship. Late registration fees will be waived for all applicants who do not receive a scholarship and any early discount rates (if applicable) will be extended to those applicants. Questions? Contact us.
How to Apply
Students & Parents:
To apply for any of our scholarships, you must complete the following:
- A workshop registration form (so we can hold a seat for you) and any health or permission forms required for the program.
- Important: If completing the registration form online, to avoid paying the full registration fee or a higher deposit fee, choose Purchase Order/Request an Invoice as your payment method.
- A refundable workshop registration deposit of $25 to hold your place in your preferred class. This replaces all other deposits or fees to hold your spot. Students/parents may request the deposit be waived for a documented financial need.*
- Mail deposit payable by check or money order to MIPA, 404 Wilson Road Room 305, East Lansing, MI 48824, or pay online via credit card at http://mipamsu.org/payment.
- The online scholarship application form, which includes:
- Information about the student;
- Student and parent financial information (voluntary) to show financial need (some, but not all, of our scholarships consider financial need);
- A one- to two-page typed essay stating why you would like to come to the workshop and what you think you will gain from it. If applying for a Nardone or Dahlstrom scholarship, be sure to address the specific requirements of those scholarships;
- A letter of recommendation from your student media adviser/journalism teacher. If you do not work on a student media staff, please provide a letter of recommendation from another teacher, administrator or school counselor who knows you well;
- A recent school photo.
*NOTE: The $25 refundable deposit holds your place in the workshop course of your choice until scholarships are decided (some courses fill quickly). Students/parents may request the deposit be waived for a documented financial need. Please include a written request with your application. The deposit will be refunded to you if you receive a full scholarship or if you choose not to attend the workshop and let us know by June 30. It will be kept as a down payment on your registration fee if you do not receive a scholarship and still wish to attend the workshop or forfeited if you fail to let us know if you are coming by June 30.
Learn About Our Scholarships to Students
Stan Soffin Scholarship
MIPA annually awards one full scholarship to a student editor in honor of Dr. Stan Soffin, former director of the Michigan State University School of Journalism and the person most instrumental in seeing that MSU became the headquarters of MIPA in the early 1980s. Apply by completing the student scholarship application.
Michigan Press Association Foundation’s Janet Mendler MIPA Scholarships
The Michigan Press Association, which represents the state’s newspaper publishers, and the MPA Foundation have been great friends to scholastic journalism in Michigan. The organization and its members care about the future of journalism and are investing energy, time and money into young journalists. The MPA Foundation’s Janet Mendler MIPA Scholarships are awarded based on need to students who are on the school newspaper staff. The foundation may award full or partial scholarships. Apply by completing the student scholarship application.
MIPA Broadcast Scholarship
MIPA is proud to offer a full or partial scholarship to a student who enrolls in one of our workshop’s broadcast classes. Scholarship is based in part on need. Apply by completing the student scholarship application.
Jeff Nardone Scholarship
This full scholarship was established in memory of Jeff Nardone, who was a long-time journalism adviser, MIPA leader and instructor at the summer workshop. The scholarship is open to all students, although interest in pursuing sports journalism and financial need will be considered in selecting the recipient. Applicants who have an interest in sports journalism should address that in their essay. Apply by completing the student scholarship application.
Lifetouch Yearbook Scholarship
Lifetouch is the world’s largest school photography and yearbook company, photographing millions of students and producing yearbooks in more than 18,000 schools across the U.S. This scholarship was created for the 2020 workshop in recognition of Lifetouch’s support of MIPA programming during the past academic year. Full or partial scholarships may be awarded to yearbook students from MIPA member schools based on the strength of their application and financial need. Apply by completing the student scholarship application.
The Argus-Press Scholarships
The Argus-Press is Michigan’s oldest single-family owned daily newspaper, having been in the Campbell family since 1895. The Owosso newpaper prints nearly 70 student newspapers and is a long-time supporter of MIPA activities. Full or partial scholarships may be awarded to newspaper students from MIPA member schools based on the strength of their application and financial need. Apply by completing the student scholarship application.
Donald F. & Katherine K. Dahlstrom Scholarship
The Michigan State University School of Journalism and the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism awards this scholarship to a high school student with an interest in environmental journalism. Applicants should address their interest in environmental journalism in their essay. Apply by completing the student scholarship application.
MIPA Grants to Schools with New Advisers or Media Programs
Button-Olman-Mack-Rau Grants
Only schools or advisers may apply for Button-Olman-Mack-Rau (BOMR) Grants. MIPA will award grants covering a student’s summer workshop registration fee to up to two schools that are starting new student media programs or have new advisers. The BOMR grants are in honor of Bob Button, Gloria Olman, Larry Mack and Betsy Pollard Rau, journalism teachers and student media advisers who have been inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame. To apply, advisers/schools should prepare a typed letter telling about your new journalism program or about yourself as the new adviser and submit it to us with information about your and your school via the BOMR Grant application form. Deadline: June 1