NLGJA Student Central > Kay Longcope Scholarship Award

About the Kay Longcope Scholarship Award

Applications will be accepted until January 31, 2010 at 11:59 pm EST

Journalist Kay Longcope was co-founder of the statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) newsweekly, The Texas Triangle, and is generally regarded as the first out reporter at the Boston Globe newspaper. The pioneering Longcope started writing for the Globe in 1970 and was there for more than twenty years, including a tenure as the paper's religion editor. She died of pancreatic cancer on March 28, 2007 .

The Kay Longcope Scholarship Award was established in 2008 through a gift from Longcope's estate and with the guidance of Longcope's partner Barbara Wohlgemuth.

NLGJA is pleased to be home to this unique scholarship opportunity which furthers the vision of founder Leroy F. Aarons and moves forward his belief in the critical role diversity plays in the education of the next generation of newsroom leaders.

The scholarship award will provide tuition assistance to an LGBT student of color who plans a career in journalism and is committed to furthering NLGJA's mission of fair and accurate coverage of the LGBT community.

Scholarship Eligibility

Applicants must be an LGBT individual of color planning to pursue a career in journalism and be able to demonstrate their passion and commitment to the profession. Selection will be based on journalistic and scholastic ability. Applicants also must demonstrate an awareness of the issues facing the LGBT community and the importance of fair and accurate news coverage.

For undergraduates, a declared major in journalism and communications is desirable but not required. Non-journalism majors may demonstrate their commitment to a journalism career through work samples, internships and work on a school newspaper, online news service or broadcast affiliate.

• High school seniors who have been accepted to attend a U.S. community college or four-year university, or who can show proof of application and will attend full-time beginning in the 2010-2011 academic year.
• Undergraduate students who will attend a U.S. community college or four-year university full-time during the 2010-2011 academic year.
• Undergraduate students who have been accepted for their first year of a U.S. graduate school and have submitted a tuition deposit for the 2010-2011 academic year. Graduate students must be enrolled in a journalism program.

Applicants must be planning to pursue a career in journalism and be able to demonstrate their passion and commitment to the profession. Selection will be based on journalistic and scholastic ability. Applicants also must demonstrate an awareness of the issues facing the LGBT community and the importance of fair and accurate news coverage. For undergraduates, a declared major in journalism and/or communications is desirable but not required. Non-journalism majors may demonstrate their commitment to a journalism career through work samples, internships, and work on a school news publication, online news service or broadcast affiliate.

The scholarship is available only to U.S. citizens or permanent residents who plan to attend a full year of school in the U.S. The scholarship may not be used to pay for course work or credits earned abroad. The scholarship award may pay for tuition only. The amount of the scholarship award will not exceed the student’s annual tuition costs. Undergraduate applicants enrolled in non-news sequences must demonstrate their commitment to pursuing a journalism career through work samples, internships, work on a school news publication, online news service or broadcast affiliate. Graduate students must be enrolled in a journalism program.

Additional Information & Forms

• Guidelines (PDF)
• Application (PDF)
• Recomendation Cover Sheet (PDF )