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Lee Thornton Scholarship

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$2,000

deadline Due: November 14, 2026
pencil No essay
graduates No min. GPA required
map No transcripts required

Eligibility

Lee Thornton Scholarship, with an application deadline in November, offers numerous awards of $2000 each.

Description

Lee Thornton was the first African-American woman to cover the White House for a major news network (CBS) and the first African-American host of All Things Considered on National Public Radio. Ms. Thornton passed away in 2013 at age 71 and endowed in her estate the Lee Thornton Scholarship in her name. The recipient of the Lee Thornton Scholarship will receive a monetary award and an invitation to the RTDNA conference. Applicants must be pursuing careers in radio, television, or digital journalism. They must plan on continuing their undergraduate education in the Fall semester to be eligible. Students from the University of Maryland and Howard University will be given preference. Applicants must submit the URL links to 3-5 work samples. Links should be broadcast (television/radio) or online news pieces, and should be uploaded to a host site like YouTube, Vimeo, SoundCloud, etc. Applicants must also submit a cover letter, which discusses the applicant's current and past journalism experience, describes how the applicant intends to use the funds, and discusses the applicant's choice to pursue a career in journalism. Applicants must also submit a letter of recommendation from a professor, advisor or supervisor. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the Radio Television Digital News Association for more information.