National Collegiate Athletic Association is pleased to announce that they are offering Jim McKay Graduate Scholarships. In 2008, the National Collegiate Athletic Association established the following scholarship to recognize the immense contributions and legacy of pioneer sports journalist Jim McKay. Every year, one male and one female student or student-athlete will be awarded a one-time $10,000 Jim McKay scholarship in recognition of outstanding academic achievement and their potential to make a major contribution to the sports communication industry or public relations. All former student-athletes who earned an undergraduate degree from an NCAA member school are eligible to be nominated by that school for an NCAA graduate degree scholarship, regardless of when they received their undergraduate degree. Note that only the faculty athletics representative or the FAR Designee of the institution at which the nominee is a student or student-athlete may nominate qualified candidates.
McKay scholars will be recognized as having a unique aptitude and commitment to the communications field while displaying the highest level of professional integrity, including the principles of truthfulness, accuracy, objectivity, impartiality, fairness, and public accountability, with the element of compassion that so infused McKay’s long and storied career. Therefore, to provide support to their commitment and compassion, NCAA offers the following scholarship. While McKay scholars do not need a major in communications or journalism to participate in the scholarship, they should just demonstrate achievement in sport communication, public relations or at least show an interest in contributing to the field.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a member-led organization dedicated to the well-being and lifelong success of college athletes. NCAA schools award nearly $3.5 billion in athletic scholarships every year and provide vast support to help student-athletes graduate at a rate higher than their general student peers. More than 500,000 college athletes across all three divisions compete for about 1,100 member schools in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and even Canada.
Table of Contents
Brief Description
Following is the brief description of the following scholarship:
| Organization | National Collegiate Athletic Association |
| Education Level | Undergraduate or current graduate students |
| Subjects | Any |
| Amount | $2,000 |
| Access Mode | Online |
| Number of Awards | 5 |
| City | Any |
| Nationality | Domestic |
| Country | USA |
| Contest Deadline | January 13, 2022 |
| Application Fees | Not required |
| Requirements | Application form, essay, resume, transcripts, recommendation |
Who is Eligible?
Following are the eligibility requirements for the following scholarship contest:
- Have an overall undergraduate cumulative grade-point average of 3.500 or better (based on a maximum 4.000) or the equivalent in other recognized grading systems;
- Are in their final season of NCAA athletics eligibility or will not be using any remaining athletics eligibility;
- Be enrolled in graduate study at an NCAA member institution or be a graduating senior committed to enrolling in a graduate degree program within five years of being named a McKay Scholar;
- Demonstrate efforts in the communication field or have an interest beyond their major to contribute to sports communication;
- Ascribe to the highest levels of integrity, including the principles of truthfulness, accuracy, objectivity, impartiality, fairness, and public accountability;
- Have evidenced superior character and leadership;
- Have an understanding and appreciation for the legacy of Jim McKay, his contributions to sports broadcasting, and specifically his award-winning oratory on the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.
How to Apply?
The interested individuals are required to complete the information described below:
- The application form, to be completed online by the student, student-athlete, the faculty athletics representative, or FAR Designee of the nominating institution
- A personal essay outlining the nominee’s short and long-term goals, explaining the relationship of the proposed graduate study to these goals, and describing the student or student-athlete’s personal and intellectual development, including the role played in this development by intercollegiate athletics. This statement shall be written by the nominee;
- Four factual lists.
- Principle activities while in college [excluding community activities];
- Student-athletes: Athletics honors while in college [including athletics records, prizes, scholarships, and offices held];
- Students: Internships or activities that demonstrate an effort to contribute to sports communication or public relations.
- Academic honors while in college and;
- Involvement in community activities with dates while in college. For the community activities list, please indicate the number of hours per week, weeks per year, and the number of years of involvement. [If you are referencing an activity by its formal name, please provide a brief explanation of the project].
Supporting Documents
Following are the documents that need to be attached with your application form:
- Applicants must upload official transcripts to complete the application. Official transcripts can be scanned and uploaded to the system as a .pdf document. You must upload all transcripts at one time. Please ensure the transcript reflect ALL undergraduate work only.
- Four letters of recommendation, by four different people.
- A faculty member teaching in the discipline of the nominee’s baccalaureate degree;
- A person able to judge the nominee’s contribution to intercollegiate athletics or academic advisor;
- A person in the position to speak about your community service and leadership.
- One endorser of your choice;
The Endorsements tab will appear after an applicant has listed each endorser’s information (name and email address) and after the applicant has submitted his or her application. The endorser will only receive an automated email upon application submission. The endorser’s email address provided by the applicant must be used to log in to Program Hub to endorse.
Benefits
The one male and one female student or student-athlete will be awarded a one-time $10,000 Jim McKay scholarship in recognition of outstanding academic achievement and their potential to make a major contribution to the sports communication industry or public relations.
Application Deadline
The deadline for the application submission for the following contest is January 13, 2022. No applications will be considered after this date.
