Each year, through generous donations from local organizations, JAMS is able to offer its majors a variety of scholarships. Here is general information regarding scholarships available through JAMS that will help you to determine not only how to apply and when to apply, but also how to present other information required by the committee.
Scholarship levels – These amounts vary from year to year, some for hundreds of dollars and some thousands of dollars. Amounts are generally established by the University during the summer.
Number of scholarships awarded – These amounts vary from year to year. Generally between 10 and 20 scholarships are awarded.
JAMS scholarship recipients are announced following the announcement of the University’s Foundation account allocation during the summer (typically in July). The scholarships funds are not dispersed until the following fall and spring semesters. The funds are applied directly to the students’ tuition account in equal sums depending upon the amount awarded (amounts vary). All applicants must be enrolled at UWM and continue to pursue the JAMS major for one full academic year if awarded a scholarship (for example, winners who applied in the spring of 2025 must be enrolled at UWM and continue to pursue the JAMS major through spring 2026 or beyond.)
For more information about JAMS scholarships, please contact Eric Lohman: erlohman@uwm.edu.
The scholarship process for all undergraduates and all scholarships (both major specific ones and all general scholarships) begins with UWM’s Panther Scholarship Portal. Graduate students can also follow this process, though most of the available scholarship funding is for undergraduates. See the graduate student funding page for more information.
How and when to apply:
- Log into the portal and your general application. This must be done a minimum of once per school year but we recommend doing this twice a year at the start of each semester (September and January).
- In the portal, complete the Letters & Science scholarship
application. Here is where you will upload a copy
of your transcript (also recommended to be done in September and
January).
Completing steps 1 and 2 will match you to most scholarships based on the information you enter. - You may see scholarships on your Panther Scholarship Portal dashboard that you can “Apply To.” These are scholarships which require additional information beyond steps 1 and 2. Complete any of these you wish to apply for.
The Panther Scholarship Portal can also be used to find non-UWM (private) scholarships that have registered with UWM. These may be scholarships sponsored by local or national organizations, fraternal clubs or other companies outside of UWM.
Students are responsible for reading and understanding UWM’s policies regarding scholarship applications. Please pay particular attention to the section on the use of AI (such as Chat GPT).
In the portal, the Journalism, Advertising, and Media Studies offers these scholarships and awards just for their students.
Dave Edwards Scholarship
The Dave Edwards Scholarship is funded by generous gifts from friends and family of Dave Edwards at the time of his retirement. Dave was the long-time director of WUWM public radio. The scholarship is given to a journalism major (must be on the journalism track), with demonstrated financial need as shown on the FAFSA, full-time status, a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Preference is given to students with career aspirations in radio or broadcast journalism and/or who are first generation to attend college. Second degree students are not eligible.
Award: $1,350
Donor: Friends and Colleagues of Dave Edwards
View in PortalDon Walker Memorial Scholarship
The Don Walker Memorial Scholarship is funded by generous gifts from the Milwaukee Press Club which includes many former colleagues of Don. This scholarship honors the legacy of Donald L. Walker, an alumnus of Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He was an editor and reporter for the Milwaukee Journal and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and a founding member of the Milwaukee Newspaper Guild. The scholarship is given to a JAMS major on the journalism track, with demonstrated financial need, full-time status, and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. The scholarship alternates between UWM and Marquette and is not offered every year.
Award: $4,000
Donor: The Don Walker Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Milwaukee Press Club Endowment
View in PortalDr. Donna Decker Scholarship for Journalism, Advertising, and Media Studies (JAMS)
The Dr. Donna Decker scholarship was established in 2017 by the family and friends of Dr. Donna Decker, a former instructor in the Journalism, Advertising and Media Studies (JAMS) Department who passed away at a young age. Donna was known as a passionate and engaging teacher with a bright spirit. She obtained her PhD in British Literature in the midst of her original cancer diagnosis and went on to teach at both Marquette University and UWM. Dr. Decker’s love of literature and journalism is reflected in this joint scholarship which is given to one English major and one JAMS major each year
Eligible students will be full-time students with junior or senior standing and a declared major in either English or JAMS. The selected student will have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement. Second degree students (students who already hold one bachelor’s degree) are not eligible.
Students who have an up-to-date Panther Scholarship Portal General Application and the College of Letters & Science Scholarships and Awards Application will be considered, typically in spring each year. No additional or separate application is required; students should thoroughly fill out the Panther Scholarship Portal General Application and the College of Letters & Science Scholarships and Awards Application. Awards given in spring are for the following school year so students graduating that same spring or summer are not eligible. E.G. applications reviewed in Spring 2025 are for Fall 2025; students graduating in May or August 2025 are not eligible.
Award: $1,000
Donor: Family and Friends of Dr. Donna Decker
View in PortalFrancie & Albert Silverman/MPC Endowment Ltd. Scholarship
This academic merit scholarship is given to a full-time journalism major on the journalism track with demonstrated academic achievement, career aspirations in journalism, and demonstrated potential for success in the field of journalism. Students who have an up-to-date Panther Scholarship Portal General Application and the College of Letters & Science Scholarships and Awards Application will be considered, typically in spring each year. No additional or separate application is required; students should thoroughly fill out the Panther Scholarship Portal General Application and the College of Letters & Science Scholarships and Awards Application. Awards given in spring are for the following school year so students graduating that same spring or summer are not eligible.
Award: $1,250
Donor: Milwaukee Press Club Endowment, Ltd.
View in PortalJournalism, Advertising, and Media Studies (JAMS) Scholarship
Awarded by the department to a student studying broadcast journalism. This gift is made in honor of Ed Hinshaw on behalf of the Milwaukee Press Club.
Award: $1,000
Donor: Milwaukee Press Club Endowment, Ltd.
View in PortalKeith Spore Journal Communications Scholarship
THe Keith Spore Journal Communications Scholarship is funded by generous donor gifts and is give to one or more students who meet these criteria.
- Declared major in Journalism, Advertising and Media Studies on the journalism or media studies track
- Demonstrated financial need as shown on the FAFSA
- Full-time enrollment during the term of the scholarship
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
Second degree students are not eligible.
Students who have an up-to-date Panther Scholarship Portal General Application and the College of Letters & Science Scholarships and Awards Application will be considered, typically in spring each year. No additional or separate application is required; students should thoroughly fill out the Panther Scholarship Portal General Application and the College of Letters & Science Scholarships and Awards Application. Awards given in spring are for the following school year so students graduating that same spring or summer are not eligible. E.G. applications reviewed in Spring 2025 are for Fall 2025; students graduating in May or August 2025 are not eligible.
Award: Varies up to $2,000
Donor: Keith Spore and Journal Communications, Inc.
View in PortalLouise J. Kordus Memorial Scholarship
Academic merit scholarships are given to JAMS majors in the journalism or media studies track. Second degree students are not eligible. Students who have an up-to-date Panther Scholarship Portal General Application and the College of Letters & Science Scholarships and Awards Application will be considered, typically in spring each year. No additional or separate application is required; students should thoroughly fill out the Panther Scholarship Portal General Application and the College of Letters & Science Scholarships and Awards Application. Awards given in spring are for the following school year so students graduating that same spring or summer are not eligible.
Award: Varies up to $5,000
Donor: The Estate of Louise J. Kordus
View in PortalMichael Petrick Journalism Scholarship
The Michael Petrick Scholarship is funded by the generous gifts of Michael Petrick. This merit scholarship is awarded to a declared JAMS major on the journalism track and with a demonstrated commitment to a career in news or editorial commentary. Second degree students are not eligible. Eligibility includes: Major in Journalism, Advertising and Media Studies in the journalism track Full-time student Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
Award: Varies up to $3,000
Donor: Michael Petrick
View in PortalRafi & Zohreh Scholarship
This $2,500 scholarship is given to a journalism student with senior standing as of the start of the fall semester. The recipient will have demonstrated academic merit (minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA) and will have an appreciation and understanding of non-U.S. cultures and identities as demonstrated through personal background, study abroad, extracurricular activities, or other similar cross-cultural experiences. Financial need may be considered but is not required. Second degree students are not eligible. Applications are typically accepted in January and scholarships awarded are for the following fall; students graduating that same May or August are not eligible
Award: $5,000
Donor: Dr. Hassan Rafi-Zadeh ’68 and Dr. Zohreh Sotoodeh
View in Portal