Bernard Kilgore Memorial Scholarship
Nomination required
Eligibility
About this scholarship
Graduating New Jersey high school seniors with at least a 3.0 GPA, two or more years of high school journalism experience, and plans to study journalism or media in college may be nominated for the Bernard Kilgore Memorial Scholarship and New Jersey High School Journalist of the Year Award.
One recipient receives a $5,000 scholarship and the state Journalist of the Year title, with a chance to compete nationally through the Journalism Education Association.
Students must be nominated by a teacher at a GSSPA-member school or by an editor at a New Jersey Press Association member newspaper. Complete the application form and submit a portfolio demonstrating versatility, responsibility, inquisitiveness, and journalistic skill.
The award honors Bernard Kilgore, longtime leader of The Wall Street Journal, and is sponsored by the New Jersey Press Foundation and Garden State Scholastic Press Association.
Essay question
What else to submit
- Completed application form
- Portfolio showing journalistic versatility, responsibility, inquisitiveness, and skill
- Official high school transcript
- Three or four letters of recommendation
- Action photo performing a journalistic activity
- At least one yearbook spread and selected published-work samples
- Self-analytical evaluation of the applicant's journalistic life
- Open to high school seniors graduating this year from a New Jersey high school (NJ residents); applicants are nominated by GSSPA-member-school teachers or editors of NJ Press Association member newspa
- Plan to study journalism/media studies in college and pursue a media career
- GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Participated in high school journalism for at least two years (must provide proof)
- Official high school transcript
- Three or four letters of recommendation (from adviser, teachers, and practitioners; principal letter desirable but optional)
- An action photo of you doing something journalistic
- At least one sample yearbook spread plus carefully selected samples of published work (readable photocopies), grouped/labeled by relevance category
- Entire entry material must not exceed 46 pages including the one-page application form, letters, and transcripts (personal/action photo is in addition to the 46-page max)
- Application emailed to parbitell@njpa.org; 2025 deadline was February 5, 2025
- Entry materials may not exceed 46 pages, excluding the personal/action photo.