Missouri State University

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Supporting your educational goals

The communication department offers a number of scholarships specifically for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a communication-related degree. These scholarships are designed to support your studies at Missouri State and reward excellence in both the community and the classroom. View each scholarship listed below for more information about application requirements and award details.

You may also qualify for additional University-wide scholarships or financial aid. The office of financial aid provides information about University scholarships, grants, and loans.

The Russell Keeling Scholarship (undergraduate)

Value

$300

Application

Complete applications must include the following:

  • A signed application form
  • A letter of application addressed to the department of communication scholarship committee

Letters of application should address your academic and career goals and explain why you are deserving of the scholarship(s) for which you are applying.

Renewal criteria

This scholarship cannot be renewed. 

Selection criteria

Awarded to an undergraduate communication major who demonstrates a commitment to public affairs and citizenship.

William Carrington Memorial Debate Scholarship

Value

Roughly $1,000/year, depending on interest income. This amount may be divided between multiple debaters.

Application

Applicants are encouraged to submit supplemental materials (prior research, letters of recommendation and a video), particularly if they have not directly worked with the Missouri State debate coaching staff in some context. The complete application is available on the debate website.

Selection criteria

Student must be the best debater of the year.

Virginia Craig Memorial Scholarship

Value

Roughly $1,000/year, depending on interest income. This amount may be divided between multiple debaters.

Application

Applicants are encouraged to submit supplemental materials (prior research, letters of recommendation and a video), particularly if they have not directly worked with the Missouri State debate coaching staff in some context. The complete application is available on the debate website.

Selection criteria

Student must be the best debater of the year.

Richard R. Stovall Graduate Scholarship

Value

$800-$1,000 depending on availability of funds

Application

Complete applications must include the following:

  • A signed application form
  • A letter of application addressed to the department of communication scholarship committee

Letters of application should address your academic and career goals and explain why you are deserving of the scholarship(s) for which you are applying.

Renewal criteria

This scholarship can be renewed, but students must reapply to be considered for renewal. 

Selection criteria

Recipient must be a full-time junior or senior communication major with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA.

Holt V. Spicer Scholarship (undergraduate)

Value

$800-$1,000 depending on availability of funds

Application

Complete applications must include the following:

  • A signed application form
  • A letter of application addressed to the department of communication scholarship committee

Letters of application should address your academic and career goals and explain why you are deserving of the scholarship(s) for which you are applying.

Renewal criteria

This scholarship can be renewed, but students must reapply to be considered for renewal. 

Selection criteria

Recipient must be a full-time junior or senior communication major with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA.

Additional information

The application deadline for scholarship applications is March 15. Even though the University deadline for the FAFSA form is March 31, the communication department requests it to be submitted by March 15.

The Faculty Scholarship in Communication (undergraduate)

Value

$300-$600 depending on the availability of funds

Application

Complete applications must include the following:

  • A signed application form
  • A letter of application addressed to the department of communication scholarship committee

Letters of application should address your academic and career goals and explain why you are deserving of the scholarship(s) for which you are applying.

Renewal criteria

Preference will be given to new applicants, and the likelihood of review is contingent on availability of funds.

Selection criteria

This scholarship is awarded to a promising undergraduate student who has declared a major in communication and completed at least 30 hours with a 3.0 cumulative GPA and a 3.0 in the departmental core.

The Donal and Vicki Stanton Scholarship (undergraduate)

Value

$800-1,000 depending on availability of funds

Application

Complete applications must include the following:

  • A signed application form
  • A letter of application addressed to the department of communication scholarship committee

Letters of application should address your academic and career goals and explain why you are deserving of the scholarship(s) for which you are applying.

Renewal criteria

This scholarship can be renewed, but students must reapply to be considered for renewal. 

Selection criteria

This scholarship is awarded to an outstanding student majoring in socio-political communication.

The David L. Dollar Scholarship (undergraduate)

Value

$500-$1,000 depending on availability of funds

Application

Complete applications must include the following:

  • A signed application form
  • A letter of application addressed to the department of communication scholarship committee

Letters of application should address your academic and career goals and explain why you are deserving of the scholarship(s) for which you are applying.

Renewal criteria

This scholarship may be renewed one (1) time as long as the student maintains satisfactory academic progress and continues to meet the criteria. If the student should fall below the required GPA or fail to continue to meet criteria, the scholarship will not be renewable.

Selection criteria

This scholarship is awarded to an outstanding graduate student in communication or an incoming graduate student with a minimum GPA of 3.5 in the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework.

Chris Sifford Memorial Scholarship (undergraduate)

Value

$500 depending on availability of funds

Application

Complete applications must include the following:

  • A signed application form
  • A letter of application addressed to the department of communication scholarship committee

Letters of application should address your academic and career goals and explain why you are deserving of the scholarship(s) for which you are applying.

Renewal criteria

This scholarship is renewed automatically. Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress and continue to meet all other criteria.

Selection criteria

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must meet the requirements listed below:

  • Be a communication or journalism major at the sophomore level or higher.
  • Hold at least a GPA of 3.0

Christina S. Drale Graduate Scholarship

Value

$500

Application

Complete applications must include the following:

  • A signed application form
  • A letter of application addressed to the department of communication scholarship committee

Letters of application should address your academic and career goals and explain why you are deserving of the scholarship(s) for which you are applying.

Renewal criteria

This scholarship is renewed automatically. Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress and continue to meet all other criteria.

Selection criteria

This scholarship is awarded to an outstanding graduate student in communication or an incoming graduate student with a minimum GPA of 3.5 in the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework.

Berquist & Bourhis Engaged Scholar Award

Value

$500

Application

Complete applications must include the following:

  • A signed application form
  • A letter of application addressed to the department of communication scholarship committee

Letters of application should address your academic and career goals and explain why you are deserving of the scholarship(s) for which you are applying.

Renewal criteria

This scholarship cannot be renewed. 

Selection criteria

This scholarship is awarded to an outstanding graduate student in communication, who must be working with the Center for Dispute Resolution.

The Adams Public Service Scholarship (undergraduate)

Value

$400

Application

Complete applications must include the following:

  • A signed application form
  • A letter of application addressed to the department of communication scholarship committee

Letters of application should address your academic and career goals and explain why you are deserving of the scholarship(s) for which you are applying.

Renewal criteria

This scholarship cannot be renewed. 

Selection criteria

This scholarship provides financial support to communication students serving unpaid internships in the non-profit or government arenas.

Chris Sifford Memorial Scholarship

Value

One $3,000 scholarship will be awarded annually.

Application

Complete the General and Departmental Scholarship Application by March 1.

Renewal criteria

This scholarship is renewed automatically. The student can receive the scholarship for up to three years.

Selection criteria

Awarded annually to a full-time sophomore seeking a degree in either Journalism or in the Communication Department with an overall GPA of 3.0.  Preference given to residents of Boone, Cole, Audrain, Callaway, Moniteau, Cooper, Howard, Randolph, Stoddard, and Greene County in MO.