Scholarships and Awards | Communication | University of Illinois Chicago

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The Outstanding Communication Major Award

This award is for a Communication major who has demonstrated both excellence in their academic accomplishments, as well as outstanding leadership outside of the classroom. The recipient is chosen by the Head of the Department from undergraduate candidates who have been recommended by faculty. Nominations are made by full-time faculty members who have had the student in class. Students may ask a professor they have had for a class to nominate them for the award.

The award is for a current student who has junior or senior year standing. It cannot be given to a student who has already graduated. The award nomination process takes place during in Spring semester.

Communication Department Award of Distinction

This award recognizes a Communication major who has achieved academic distinction. This award is given to a student who is graduating with honors and has a minimum overall GPA of 3.25 and a minimum Communication GPA of 3.5 (out of 4). Nominations are made by full-time faculty members who have had the student in class. Students may ask a professor they have had for a class to nominate them for the award. The award nomination process takes place during in Spring semester.

Rose Economu Award

This award recognizes a Communication major who is in good academic standing, is within three semesters of graduation, and has demonstrated financial need. Nominations are made by full-time faculty members who have had the student in class. Students may ask a professor they have had for a class to nominate them for the award. The award nomination process takes place during in Spring semester.

Graduate Student Awards

Barnhurst-Doherty Award

https://grad.uic.edu/funding-awards/graduate-college-fellowships/bda/

Professor Emeritus Kevin Barnhurst taught in the Department of Communication from 1998
until his retirement in 2012, serving as interim head in 2002 and department head from 2005 to
2008. His research and teaching covered political communication, sociology of young audiences,
journalism history, visual culture and qualitative methods. His husband, Richard Doherty, served
as lecturer and academic technology resource coordinator in the department of communication
and served as a faculty advisor in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The Barnhurst-
Doherty Award provides matching funds to supplement monies already received to offset the
expense of travel to professional conferences, seminars, and workshops at which the recipient(s)
have presented original research of their own authorship. The recipients shall be in good
academic standing. Preference shall be given to students who are pursuing a graduate degree in
the Department of Communication in the College of Liberal Arts whose work reflects LGBTQ
studies at UIC.

Student Presenter Awards

https://grad.uic.edu/funding-awards/graduate-college-fellowships/student-presenter-awards/

The Graduate College offers up to $150.00 (depending on actual expenses) to eligible graduate
students to help to defray costs associated with presenting original research or scholarly work at
a meeting or conference. The meeting or conference must be a part of a nationally or
internationally recognized scientific or scholarly society. Applicants must be the primary
presenter of the original research or scholarly work. The award may be used for transportation
(outside the Chicago metropolitan area only), lodging, and/or registration expenses.

UIC Graduate College Fellowships and Awards

https://grad.uic.edu/funding-awards/graduate-college-fellowships/

Find more postings from various funding opportunities through the graduate college.

Other UIC/ UI Systems Awards

Graduate Student Council Award: https://gradstudentcouncil.uic.edu/awards/
President’s Research in Diversity Travel Assistance Program: https://www.vpaa.uillinois.edu/academic_affairs_programs/diversity_travel_assistance_program

International Communication Association Student Teaching Award (Graduate Students)

This award recognizes a Communication graduate student who has an outstanding record as a teacher, in addition to a solid performance in other aspects of graduate study. The recipient receives a one-year membership to the International Communication Association. The award nomination process takes place during in Spring semester.

National Communication Association Award – Membership (Graduate Students)

The NCA Award recognizes a graduate student with standing as a second year student or beyond who has demonstrated outstanding performance of graduate study. The recipient receives a one-year membership to NCA, plus a one-year subscription to an NCA journal. The Director of Graduate Studies and any faculty teaching graduate courses in the previous year may make nominations to the Awards Committee. Students may ask a professor to nominate them. The award nomination process takes place during in Spring semester.

UIC and LAS Scholarships, Prizes, and Awards of Recognition

Guidelines (including exact GPA requirements) and due dates for scholarships are available through SnAP (https://uic.academicworks.com/.):

Bernard Shaw Prize

This scholarship is named after the distinguished journalist and CNN anchor and is awarded annually to qualified LAS undergraduates majoring in Communication, English/journalism, History, or Political Science. The purpose of The Bernard Shaw Prize is to recognize superior academic and civic achievement, to encourage further educational study, and to help students needing financial assistance. Recipients must demonstrate, at least two years as a UIC student, an outstanding record of academic accomplishments, along with exemplary leadership and citizenship.

Credit Hours Eligibility

Minimum 60 semester hours completed at UIC by end of current Spring semester.

Min. GPA

Special Eligibility Requirements

A graded writing sample from one of your UIC classes is required. Statement of personal and professional goals is required.

Scholarship Amount

Up to $10,000

PNA-Hugh Hill Endowed Scholarship

This scholarship is available to a full-time Communication or English major who has current or previous internship experience in electronic and/or print media at a television or radio station, magazine, or newspaper.