Bernard Kilgore Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Garden State Scholarstic Press Association

Attention journalism advisers and students —

The Bernard Kilgore Memorial Scholarship, established by the Kilgore family in partnership with the New Jersey Press Foundation, awards one New Jersey high school journalist $5,000 each year. This is a great opportunity for a senior who plans to major in journalism and is committed to student reporting.

What the award pays and when
- One $5,000 scholarship, paid after the winner provides a copy of the college acceptance letter.
- The winner is announced at the Spring Advisers’ Conference.
- The GSSPA winner is also named JEA’s New Jersey Journalist of the Year and entered in the JEA National Journalist of the Year competition.

Who runs the competition
- The Garden State Scholastic Press Association (GSSPA) administers nominations.
- Judging is done by editors from newspapers that are members of the New Jersey Press Association.
- Nominations are made by high school journalism teachers and school newspaper advisers; recommendations from professional editors are encouraged.

How to enter (for advisers and nominees)
- Each faculty adviser should select one student who best meets the eligibility and criteria below.
- The adviser and nominee prepare a portfolio of the student’s best work.
- Submit the completed entry by the deadline: Feb. 7 (this year).
- Request the complete application packet from the GSSPA.

Eligibility requirements
A nominee must:
1. Be a graduating senior with at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
2. Have served at least two years in some capacity in high school journalism.
3. Intend to study journalism in college and pursue a career in journalism.
4. Have an adviser who is a member of GSSPA.
5. Have an entry received or postmarked by the deadline.

Judging criteria
Portfolios will be compared against one another. Strong candidates typically demonstrate:
- Versatility: ability to handle a variety of subjects well.
- Responsibility: thorough research and ethical reporting.
- Inquisitiveness: a habit of pursuing stories important to students and the community.
- Skill: clear, creative, and well-crafted work.
Also look for evidence of a sustained commitment to student journalism throughout high school.

About Bernard Kilgore (short background)
Bernard Kilgore shaped The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones for more than 25 years. Credited with turning the Journal into a national daily, he also started or expanded publications including The National Observer and Barron’s and grew the Dow Jones News Service into a global operation. Kilgore believed deeply in developing young journalists; this scholarship grew out of that belief and is supported by gifts from the Kilgore family, The Princeton Packet, the Dow Jones Foundation, and friends.

If you advise a student who fits these qualifications, consider preparing a nomination now. Contact the GSSPA for the complete application packet and any additional instructions.