Scholarships and Awards

Amelia Lucas Memorial Award

The Amelia Lucas Trust Fund award assists communication students (undergraduate majors or graduate level) actively engaged in communication-related research. Recipients will be chosen by a panel of faculty based on level of engagement in communication-related research, the quality of the research, and the expenses incurred by the student in doing or presenting the research. Applications are typically accepted in October and November each year for payment the following spring. Students graduating that same December or January are ineligible.

Communication Department Undergraduate Student Awards

For academic meritorious communication students. Declared majors with junior or senior standing and graduate students in Communication will be considered for all available merit-based scholarships in the Department of Communication.

Communication Graduate Research Award

When funds are available, Communication graduate students who are engaged in faculty-directed research can apply for this award that can be used for research-related expenses including travel.
No awards will be given until the 2026-27 academic year at the earliest.

John R. Johnson Scholarship

The John R. Johnson Research Award recognizes and supports undergraduate Communication students with demonstrated academic merit. Second degree students are not eligible. Applications are typically accepted in October and November for awards paid the following spring semester. Students graduating that same December or January are not eligible.

Renee A. Meyers Scholarship

Given to a graduate student in the Department of Communication with demonstrated excellence in research, teaching and service. Applicants will need to provide information about their accomplishments in each area. Research excellence will be measured by published work appearing in academic books or journals, presentations at communication conferences, development of a cohesive research program, and similar criteria. Excellence in teaching will be measured by innovative teaching practices, demonstrated leadership as an instructor, and quantitative/qualitative teaching evaluations. Service is defined as contributions to the Department, University, community, and/or the Communication discipline, committee involvement and leadership, reviewing for the profession, and volunteering in the community.

Applications are typically accepted in October and November for an award in the following spring semester. Recipients must be enrolled in spring term to receive this scholarship. E.G. applicants graduating the same December or January when applications are accepted are not eligible.

Ruth McGaffey Scholarship

The Ruth McGaffey Scholarship is given to the declared Communication major with the highest cumulative GPA who has achieved at least sophomore standing. Review by the faculty in Communication takes place in fall each year between October and November. There is no student application process. Second degree students (students who already hold a bachelor’s degree) are not eligible.

Amelia Lucas Memorial Award

The Amelia Lucas Trust Fund award assists communication students (undergraduate majors or graduate level) actively engaged in communication-related research. Recipients will be chosen by a panel of faculty based on level of engagement in communication-related research, the quality of the research, and the expenses incurred by the student in doing or presenting the research. Applications are typically accepted in October and November each year for payment the following spring. Students graduating that same December or January are ineligible.

Chancellor's Graduate Student Award in Communication

Chancellor’s award for graduate students in Communication as chosen by the Department. Students do not need to submit an application to be considered for this award.

Communication Department Graduate Student Award Application

Communication graduate students can use this single application to apply for multiple research awards given by the Department of Communication for Spring 2026. Students must be enrolled during the Spring 2026 semester; students graduating in December 2025 or January 2025 are not eligible for consideration. Available awards include:

• Amelia Lucas Award – one $500 award is given to a Communication graduate student or undergraduate major
• Communication Graduate Research Award – one or two awards are given valued at $500 or higher
• John Paul Jones Scholarship – one or two awards are given valued at $500 or higher to graduate students or undergraduate juniors or seniors
• Communication Student Support Award – one $500 award is given to a communication major, minor or graduate student, with a preference for a student actively engaged in communication research. (research-based)

To apply:

1. Complete the UWM general scholarship application
2. Complete the supplemental questions in the Communication Department Graduate Student Awards application

Communication Department Undergraduate Student Awards

For academic meritorious communication students. Declared majors with junior or senior standing and graduate students in Communication will be considered for all available merit-based scholarships in the Department of Communication.

Communication Graduate Research Award

When funds are available, Communication graduate students who are engaged in faculty-directed research can apply for this award that can be used for research-related expenses including travel.
No awards will be given until the 2026-27 academic year at the earliest.

Communication Student Support Award

When funds are available, the Department of Communication Student Support Award provides financial assistance to graduate students in the Department of Communication engaged in research and scholarly activities.

No awards will be made from this fund at this time.

Frank E.X. Dance Scholarship

The Frank E.X. Dance Scholarship recognizes an outstanding undergraduate communication major. Eligible students will be a declared Communication major with a minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA. Preference will be given to students actively engaged in scholarly research. Applications are typically accepted in October and November each year.

John Paul Jones Scholarship

This scholarship honors the late John Paul Jones who spent the latter part of his career as a professor of communication at UWM.

The fund is restricted to juniors and seniors majoring or minoring in communication and graduate students in communication. Preference will be given to students actively engaged in scholarly research and with demonstrated financial need.

Applications are typically accepted in October-November each year.

John R. Johnson Scholarship

The John R. Johnson Research Award recognizes and supports undergraduate Communication students with demonstrated academic merit. Second degree students are not eligible. Applications are typically accepted in October and November for awards paid the following spring semester. Students graduating that same December or January are not eligible.

Randy & Joanna Parlee Scholarship

The Randy and Joanna Parlee Scholarship was established to provide support and recognition for students who excel in the study of Communication. When funding is available, the award is given to a declared Communication major with demonstrated academic merit including a minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA.

No awards are currently being given from this fund.

Renee A. Meyers Scholarship

Given to a graduate student in the Department of Communication with demonstrated excellence in research, teaching and service. Applicants will need to provide information about their accomplishments in each area. Research excellence will be measured by published work appearing in academic books or journals, presentations at communication conferences, development of a cohesive research program, and similar criteria. Excellence in teaching will be measured by innovative teaching practices, demonstrated leadership as an instructor, and quantitative/qualitative teaching evaluations. Service is defined as contributions to the Department, University, community, and/or the Communication discipline, committee involvement and leadership, reviewing for the profession, and volunteering in the community.

Applications are typically accepted in October and November for an award in the following spring semester. Recipients must be enrolled in spring term to receive this scholarship. E.G. applicants graduating the same December or January when applications are accepted are not eligible.

Ruth McGaffey Scholarship

The Ruth McGaffey Scholarship is given to the declared Communication major with the highest cumulative GPA who has achieved at least sophomore standing. Review by the faculty in Communication takes place in fall each year between October and November. There is no student application process. Second degree students (students who already hold a bachelor’s degree) are not eligible.