Headliners Foundation Scholarships
Funding Amount
Up to $85,000+ annually (18-20 scholarships totaling more than $85,000)
Deadline
March 6, 2027
332 days left
Grant Type
foundation
Overview
Headliners Foundation Scholarships
Overview: The Headliners Foundation annually awards 18-20 scholarships totaling more than $85,000 to outstanding undergraduate communication students and college journalists attending universities across the state of Texas who are preparing for a journalism career.
- Geographic scope: Texas colleges and universities
- Academic level: Undergraduate students
- Field of study: Journalism and communication
- Requirements: - Demonstrated commitment to journalism - Talent for reporting and storytelling - Published or broadcast work samples from student or professional media organizations - Strong academic record - Essay submission - Letters of recommendation - Demonstration of financial need - Minimum enrollment: 9+ credit hours per semester - Journalism-related internships and professional activities
Eligibility
Named Scholarship Programs
Sarah and Ernest Butler Scholarship: $6,000 annually - Open to all eligible Texas undergraduate journalism students
George Christian Scholarship: $6,000 annually - UT Austin student with preference for Daily Texan experience
Jack Keever Scholarship: Up to $750 per semester ($500 summer, $750 fall/spring) - Managing editor of The Daily Texan, UT Austin
Stuart Long Memorial Scholarships: $9,000 total - Central Texas college students
Verne Lundquist Scholarship: $6,000 - Texas college/university student interested in sports journalism
George A. McElroy Scholarship: $6,000 - Texas college/university journalism or communication student
Ellen and Mark Morrison Scholarship: $6,000 - Texas college/university student (created 2021)
Darrell K. Royal Scholarship: $3,000 - Texas undergraduate student pursuing sports journalism career
Bess Whitehead Scott Scribes Scholarship: $3,000 - Professional journalist returning to higher education (10+ years experience preferred). Separate application required.
Sam Wood Scholarship: $3,000 - Baylor University student
Headliners Founders' Scholarships: Up to $6,000 per academic year - Texas-based undergraduates preparing for journalism career
Texas Associated Press Broadcasters (TAPB) Scholarship: Texas university student practicing broadcast or multimedia journalism
Contact
Address: 221 West 6th Street, Suite 2100, Austin, TX 78701 Phone: 512-445-4520 Email: info@headlinersfoundation.orgHow to Apply
Application Process
Deadline: Friday, March 6, 2026 for 2026-27 academic year
Contact for questions: Alison Unger
Required Application Materials
1. General Information
- Personal and educational information
- Summary of honors
- University transcript (valid copy, official transcript not required)
2. Essay (Maximum 300 words)
- Choose ONE of three essay questions:
- Why do you want to be a journalist? Cite an event or time that encouraged you.
- If you could change something about the way journalism is practiced, what and why?
- What does journalistic integrity mean to you? Cite an example that influenced your desire to study journalism.
- Use essay to differentiate yourself from other applicants
3. Letters of Recommendation
- Two required letters from teacher, employer, or mentor
- Additional references/endorsements optional
4. Work Samples
- Minimum: 2 samples
- Maximum: 4 samples
- Submit as PDF, JPG, or URL links
- Include short summary description page with each sample
- Video samples: Upload to YouTube, Vimeo, or similar platform
- Audio files: Compressed format (MP3), max 10 MB per example
- Describe your role in determining/producing subject matter
5. Financial Information
- Student and parents' financial information required
- Incomplete applications will not be accepted
- All materials must exhibit good prose style and correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and attention to detail
- Recommend gathering documents before starting application
- Application can be saved and completed later
- Competitive judging process—submit best portfolio samples
- Applications open for 2026-27 academic year as of document date
Important Notes
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
Categories
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