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The Michael Kelly Journalism Scholarship

Michael Kelly '79 was the first American journalist to die covering the war in Iraq, in April 2003. (More info.) Mike Minigan '78 announced the creation of the Michael Kelly Journalism Scholarship Fund at the journalism reunion in October 2003. Kelly's widow, Madelyn, and sons Tom and Jack attended the event. By the following spring, alumni had donated enough to make our first award.

The Michael Kelly Journalism Scholarship provides support for a UNH sophomore or junior who shows high initiative, energy and potential to become a successful journalist -- a student who is passionate about journalism. The recipient need not be a journalism major. Preference will be given to students who are original thinkers and have tangible work and publishing experience. Application info is below.

The journalism faculty thanks all of you who contributed to this fund. Mike Kelly's work and life continue to inspire us all. If you haven't donated and you'd like to, here's how:

To apply for the Michael Kelly scholarship:

Who's eligible: UNH sophomores and juniors who show high initiative, energy and potential to become successful journalists -- in other words, students who are passionate about journalism. You do NOT need to be a journalism major. Preference will be given to students who are original thinkers and have tangible work and publishing experience.

To apply, submit a cover letter and essay, and up to five published newspaper or magazine articles.

The cover letter should include the following information:

Name, school address, address where you can be reached over the summer, e-mail, telephone number, journalism classes taken, if any, in high school and college

The essay should be 750 to 800 words long. Please describe in the essay your journalism experience, your passion for journalism and your plans for any future work connected with journalism.

Drop your application packet in the English Department office with "Attention journalism director" on the envelope. The decision will be announced before the end of classes in May.

Application deadline is a date in April announced each year in journalism classes and on posters in Hamilton Smith, or check with the English department office.
2008 Application Deadline: April 24.

To contribute to the Michael Kelly scholarship:

If you or your company is interested in contributing to the Michael Kelly scholarship fund, the Donald Murray Visiting Journalist Program, or any other aspect of journalism at UNH, contact any of us on the journalism faculty or go directly to Jennifer Goldberg at the UNH Foundation. Or click here to make a gift online. On the online form under Designation, go to "other" and type in Donald Murray Visiting Journalist Fund, Michael Kelly Journalism Scholarship Fund, etc.