Applications are now being accepted for the 2021 scholarship awarded by Wichita Professional Communicators. Our dynamic professionals work in advertising, digital media, editing, graphic design, journalism, marketing, photography, public relations, public speaking, writing and more. WPC offers an annual $2,000 scholarship to students pursuing degrees in these fields of study at Wichita area colleges and universities.
Besides the monetary award, the scholarship recipient will receive a one-year membership in WPC and its affiliated state and national organizations, Kansas Professional Communicators and National Federation of Press Women.
March 1 is the deadline to submit your online application. The winner will be announced in spring 2021.
Requirements for a complete application:
• Copy of transcript (unofficial)
• One letter of recommendation
• Three or more samples of your collegiate and professional work
• Short essay (300 words) stating how you, as a future member of WPC, could use your unique skills and interests to enhance WPC’s outreach through its website, fundraising activities or membership recruitment.
For questions or more information, email wichitaprocom@gmail.com or directly contact scholarship committee co-chairs Wilma Moore-Black at wilma.black@wichita.edu or Judy Conkling at judy.conkling@gmail.com.
Olivia Babin, a Wichita State University senior, was the winner of WPC’s 2020 scholarship. Babin’s work stood out from a field of 13 candidates for WPC’s $2,000 award. Shannon Littlejohn, who managed the scholarship process for years, upgraded the standards for the winner in 2020 by asking the recipient to produce a video testimonial.
“We have a strong, supportive membership that believes in giving back to grow our own journalists,” Moore-Black said. “The entire membership has many opportunities to get involved in WPC individually and group projects. We are small in numbers, but a collective group that has big hearts and is willing to work hard to generate first-class events.”
Funds for the scholarship are raised from WPC events like the annual scholarship mixer spearheaded by Beth Bower, virtual silent auctions, donations and our first, virtual, brown bag bingo meeting in December. Michelle Vann, 2020 WPC vice president of programs, promised a fun time, and everybody got to relax, socialize, compete for prizes and grasp a chance to say “bingo.”
“This year we also had our first online silent auction, generating more than $700,” Conkling said. “In these financially tough times, we are happy to be able to provide much-needed, much-appreciated scholarship funds to a deserving communications student.”
Share this article with potential applicants and if you can share your funds toward WPC’s scholarships, go to our Donate page.