The Freedom Forum, in conjunction with the NCAA, has awarded eight $3,000 scholarships for undergraduate students studying sports journalism at NCAA member institutions.

The one-year, nonrenewable scholarships were awarded to students who are entering their senior year of study during the 2009-10 academic year and who are majoring in journalism, sports journalism or who have campus sports journalism experience. 

The program is designed to foster freedoms of speech and press, while also promoting quality sports journalism education at NCAA colleges and universities. Since 1992, the program has awarded 136 $3,000 scholarships, totaling more than $400,000.

The 2009-10 Freedom Forum/NCAA Sports Journalism Scholarship recipients are: 

•         Michael C. McCall, University of Florida

•         Kyle J. Marcil, Florida A&M University

•         Christine M. Pivovar, Creighton University

•         Brendan H. Shorts, Pennsylvania State University

•         Cheng L. Sio, University of Colorado, Boulder

•         Anna J. Yee, University of Illinois, Champaign

•         Andrew G. Pentis, Arizona State University

•         Jake J. Bogus, University of Nebraska, Lincoln

“The applicants chosen this year demonstrate an ability to work across various kinds of media, which is absolutely essential for sports journalists today,” said Gene Policinski, a selection committee member representing the Freedom Forum and a former managing editor/sports at USA Today.   

The Freedom Forum, based in Washington, D.C., is a nonpartisan foundation dedicated to free press, free speech and free spirit for all people. The foundation focuses on three priorities: the Newseum, the First Amendment and newsroom diversity. The Freedom Forum is the main funder of the operations of the Newseum, an interactive museum of news in Washington, D.C.; the First Amendment Center; and the Diversity Institute.

Applications for the scholarships were judged by a selection committee chosen by the Freedom Forum and the NCAA. In addition to completing the application form, students supplied a college transcript, three samples of sports journalism work and a letter of recommendation.