WRITERS' LEAGUE OF TEXAS
formerly the Austin Writers' League
Bess Whitehead Scott Journalism Scholarship
BESS WHITEHEAD SCOTT
JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP
Please read the BWS Scholarship General
Info/Guidelines before submitting the application
Application
for the Bess Whitehead Scott Journalism Scholarship
Scott
Scribes Scholarship (for older adults)
Please read the Scott Scribes Scholarship
General Info/Guidelines before submitting the application
Application
for the Scott Scribes Scholarship
Scott Scholarships Go To Texas Writers
BESS WHITEHEAD SCOTT SCHOLARSHIP FUND NEWS (PDF format)
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The Bess Whitehead Scott Journalism Scholarship was established in 1991 to honor Bess Whitehead Scott, a pioneer Texas journalist and writer who died in 1997 at age 107. She had a long career as a newspaper reporter and editor, publicist, teacher, ad agency manager and magazine writer. The $1,000 award is granted annually to a junior or senior university student pursuing a degree in journalism or a related field.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be currently enrolled at one of the following universities: a) Baylor University b) Sam Houston State University c) Texas A & M University d) Texas State University e) University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, f) University of North Texas
- Must be a Junior or Senior in the fall of the same calendar year as the scholarship's spring application and awards process takes place.
- Must be pursuing study toward a degree in journalism or a related field
- Must demonstrate financial need
Fields of Study
Journalism/Mass Communication/Radio-Television-Film or similar designation
Use of Scholarship
Money will be paid directly to the university for credit to the student account of the winner.
Deadline
The completed application form and attachments must be postmarked no later than the first Friday in April to be considered for funding beginning with the Fall semester of that calendar year.
Address for Applications
Applications must be sent to:
Writers' League of Texas
ATTN.: BWS Journalism Scholarship
1501 W. 5th St. - Ste. E2, Austin TX 78703.
Phone: 512/499-8914.
Only the applicant selected will be notified.
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SCOTT SCRIBES SCHOLARSHIP: THE BESS WHITEHEAD SCOTT SCHOLARSHIP FOR OLDER ADULTS
The Scott Scribes Scholarship was established in 2000 to honor Bess Whitehead Scott, a pioneer Texas journalist and writer who died at age 107. She had a long career as a newspaper reporter and editor, publicist, teacher, ad agency manager and magazine writer. The $1,000 award is granted annually to a woman or man age 40 or over pursuing study or a degree in journalism, writing or a related field. The scholarship program is intended to provide financial assistance to further educational objectives of individuals either employed or making career transitions in these areas.
Eligibility Requirements
- Current resident of the State of Texas.
- Demonstrate interest in pursuing study toward degree or career advancement in journalism, writing or a related field.
- Age 40 or over on date, month and year of application deadline (April 2, 2004).
- Demonstrate financial need
Fields of Study
- Journalism/Mass Communication
- Creative writing
- English composition/writing skills
- Public relations/advertising
- Accredited course work for professional development/career advancement in journalism/writing/related field, including internet-based activities.
Use of Scholarship
Work toward accredited college/university degree, Continuing education, Writing residencies/internships College/university accredited online or liberal studies programs not requiring on-site attendance.
Deadline
To be considered for the $1,000 scholarship for the school year beginning Fall 2004, students must postmark completed applications by April 2, 2004.
Applications/guidelines are also available by snail mail by contacting Elaine Davenport, Chair of the BWS Scholarship Fund, Writers' League of Texas, in Austin at 512/264-9210 or e-mail WrtAudShop@aol.com.
Only the applicant selected will be notified.
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"Write!" was the advice of Bess Whitehead Scott to aspiring writers. "Just don't waste time. Don't read too many articles about writing. The main thing is to write. No matter whether you do it well or not - WRITE. Give some time every day of the world, if it's not but thirty minutes, to use your mind for whatever you're working on. ALWAYS be working on something."
Bess Whitehead Scott received numerous awards during her life and was recognized for her accomplishments by several organizations. She was named in 1994 to the Texas Women's Hall of Fame for her pioneering spirit as a journalist and writer. Recognized in 1992 as a Distinguished Alumna of Baylor University 80 years after her graduation, she also was honored in 1992 as an Outstanding Alumna from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, which she attended the first three years of college.
Her career started in 1915. Having no background in newspaper work, she landed a job at The Houston Post as the first woman news reporter in Houston. Her career at the Post spanned 25 years, but her accomplishments extended beyond news reporting.
She taught journalism at Milby High School in Houston, wrote two journalism textbooks, traveled to Hollywood where she wrote screenplays for two-reel silent movies, and ran an advertising firm during World War II. Texas A & M University Press published her autobiography YOU MEET SUCH INTERESTING PEOPLE in 1989 when Bess was 99 years old.
In 1990 when Scott reached 100, the Writers' League of Texas (was Austin Writers' League) honored her with a celebration. At that time a scholarship was established in her name. The Bess Whitehead Scott Journalism Scholarship is awarded annually to an upper level journalism major. A second scholarship for writers age 40 and older was established in 2000.
Scott died December 27, 1997, at the age of 107. She leaves behind a legacy of excellence and diligence in the field of journalism as a model for students today.
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SCOTT SCHOLARSHIPS GO TO TEXAS WRITERS
The Bess Whitehead Scholarship Committee of the Writers’ League of Texas has awarded $1,000 journalism scholarships to two Texas writers -- one a budding journalist in a college journalism program and the other an accomplished writer and teacher now studying journalism.
The Writers’ League gives the scholarships annually in honor of the late Bess Whitehead Scott, a pioneer Texas journalist and teacher who was a member of the Writers' League. One scholarship is for a college journalism student, the other for a person 40 or older who desires to pursue studies in journalism or other writing.
This
year’s Scott Scholarship for Older Adults was awarded to Dr. Jan
Kilby of San Antonio, a part-time writing instructor in the English Department
at San Antonio College. She is also a freelance writer for the San Antonio
Express-News and four other newspapers in the San Antonio area as well
as the Catholic News Service in Washington, D.C. In addition, she is a
writing consultant for authors and businesses.
Dr. Kilby, 54, has a Doctor of Philosophy degree in English Education from The University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Arts degree in English from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University at San Marcos), and a bachelor’s degree in English and French from St. Mary’s University at San Antonio. She has been a writing teacher and author in several fields for many years, but recently developed the urge to take undergraduate journalism courses and pursue journalistic writing. The Scott Scholarship for Older Adults is helping her toward that goal.
This
year’s Scott Scholarship for an undergraduate was awarded to Shekeira
Gillis of Dallas, a 21-year-old senior at the University of North Texas
at Denton. She is the daughter of Katrina Gillis of Dallas.
In addition to working part-time in a retailing job to finance her education, Ms Gillis is a writer for the North Texas Daily, the university newspaper. She aspires to work for a newspaper after graduation and has the long-range goal of starting a magazine for young African-American women.
For more information about the scholarships, contact Elaine Davenport at 512/264-9210 or WrtAudShop@aol.com.
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