The Freedom Forum, in cooperation with the NCAA Foundation, has awarded eight $3,000 scholarships for 2000-01 to undergraduate students majoring in journalism or sports journalism at NCAA member institutions.

The program is designed to foster freedoms of speech and press while promoting quality sports journalism education at the collegiate level.

The eight one-year, nonrenewable scholarships are awarded to juniors who will be full-time seniors in the 2000-01 academic year.

Since 1992, The Freedom Forum has awarded 67 $3,000 scholarships for more than $200,000 to students at NCAA institutions through a grant made to the NCAA Foundation.

The recipients for 2000-01 and their undergraduate institution are: Heather A. Dinich, Indiana University, Bloomington; Samuel D. Eifling, Northwestern University; Paul D. Glader, University of South Dakota; T. Nolan Hayes, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Kathleen F. O'Brien, University of Notre Dame; Aneesh V. Raman, Harvard University; Jerod H. Smalley, Marshall University; and Pauline B. Vu, University of California, Los Angeles.

The Freedom Forum, located in Arlington, Virginia, is a nonpartisan, international foundation dedicated to free press, free speech and free spirit for all people. The foundation pursues its priorities through conferences, educational activities, publishing, broadcasting, online services, fellowships, partnerships, training, research and other programs.

Applications for the scholarships are judged by a selection committee determined by The Freedom Forum and the NCAA Foundation. In addition to completing the application form, students must supply a college transcript, three examples of sports journalism work, an essay and a letter of recommendation. The deadline for applications is December of each year.

The NCAA Foundation was created in 1988 to generate funds in support of programs that enable student-athletes to participate fully in the college community, to achieve successful academic and athletics experiences, and to prepare to be effective citizens and productive contributors to society.