The NCAA has announced a new postgraduate scholarship honoring pioneer sports journalist Jim McKay.

As part of the Jim McKay Scholarship program, one male and one female student-athlete will be selected annually to receive a $10,000 postgraduate scholarship in recognition of their outstanding academic achievement and potential to contribute to the sports communications industry.

The newly established scholarship recognizes the contributions and legacy of McKay, who died in June 2008 at the age of 86. Best known for hosting ABC’s Wide World of Sports for more than 40 years, he earned numerous awards and honors, including two Emmys – one for news reporting and one for sports – for his coverage of the Munich massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics. His son, Sean McManus, is president of CBS’ sports and news divisions.

“Jim McKay embodied the very best of sports and the very best of journalism, and we are honored to remember and promote the highest ideals of professionalism and integrity that he represented through the development of our new scholarship program,” said NCAA President Myles Brand.

“My father would have been tremendously honored to be associated with this scholarship program which supports outstanding student-athletes,” said McManus “It is a great tribute to a man who always recognized the best in athletics and always understood the unlimited opportunities in education.”   

The scholarship is open to student-athletes in all three divisions who participate in any NCAA sport. Eligible recipients must have an overall undergraduate grade-point average of 3.5 or better and must have competed in intercollegiate athletics as a member of a varsity team at an NCAA member institution. Additionally, nominees should also be enrolled in a graduate program or be a graduating senior committed to enrolling in a graduate program within five years of being named as a McKay Scholar.

Candidates may be nominated only by the institution’s faculty athletics representative or chief academic officer. Although there is no limit on the number of student-athletes an institution may nominate, separate applications must be submitted for each candidate.

The application is currently available online but submissions will not be accepted electronically. A hard copy of the application and other requested supporting documents should be sent to the NCAA national office and must be postmarked not later than January 15, 2009.

For more information about the McKay Scholarship or to obtain an application, click here or contact Janice Whitehead at the NCAA national office at jwhitehead@ncaa.org or 317/917-6222.