Rhode Island PBS is offering a $15,000 scholarship to high school seniors considering a career in broadcasting, communications, or journalism. The deadline to apply is April 6. 

“We are committed to the principle of lifelong learning and carry that message ‘beyond the box’ into the community,” said David W. Piccerelli, president of Rhode Island PBS. High school seniors from the station’s broadcast area in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts who plan to attend a four-year post-secondary school are eligible to apply. The scholarships will be renewable for up to four years.

“Although the scholarship is not restricted to Rhode Island institutions, our scholarship enables a student to pay for an education at Rhode Island College or the University of Rhode Island, both of which have excellent media communications programs,” said Piccerelli. “We see this as a way of encouraging students to choose journalism and communications as a profession.” 

Students must submit their current high school transcript, a financial aid worksheet, proof of residency, and a letter of recommendation from a teacher or professional attesting to the applicant’s merit towards a successful career in broadcasting, communications, or journalism. 

This will be the first scholarship awarded. Rhode Island PBS created the scholarship fund at the Rhode Island Foundation with proceeds from the station’s participation in the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) “incentive auction,” designed to realign the use of broadcast airwaves. For Rhode Island PBS, this means moving from a UHF channel to a VHF channel, a move that provided one-time revenue for the station to invest into programming and services to the community, including this scholarship fund.

For more information about applying for a Rhode Island PBS scholarships, visit rifoundation.org.