2024 scholarship rules

Purpose
The John Etheredge Northern Illinois High School Journalism Scholarship recognizes outstanding achievement by high school students in print and/or online journalism.

Awards
A winner will receive a cash scholarship from the Northern Illinois News Association, a plaque and an announcement of the award in the NINA online newsletter.

Eligibility
The scholarship award will be presented to a high school senior who demonstrates the standards of honesty, integrity, attention to detail, hard work, creativity and an understanding and commitment to quality community journalism.

The successful candidate may be an editor, writer, photographer, manager, marketing or advertising representative or graphic designer at a high school newspaper and/or website, or a professional news publication, either print or online.

All applicants should show an intent to attend college as a journalism or communications major with an emphasis on print and/or online journalism.

Students must attend high school within the Northern Illinois region. The primary counties include Boone, Bureau, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Henry, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Knox, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, Marshall, McHenry, Mercer, Ogle, Putnam, Rock Island, Stephenson, Whiteside, Will and Winnebago.
Selection criteria
Applicants must submit a copy of their high school transcripts, which must include grade-point average. They also must submit:

  • A letter of recommendation from a high school counselor, newspaper adviser or professional supervisor. Additional letters of recommendation are welcome.
  • A portfolio of work published in either print or online. Examples include: news, sports and feature articles; photographs or photo pages, page layouts or full copies of a newspaper showing the student’s contribution to the overall product.
  • An autobiographical essay that includes a description of career goals.
  • A completed nomination form.

Submissions
Applications must be postmarked by April 17, 2024, or earlier. Send to: Northern Illinois News Association, c/o Shelley Hendricks, Peters Campus Life Building, Suite 130, DeKalb IL 60115

Judging
All applications will be judged by members of the NINA board of directors. The scholarship winner will be notified in April.