Leroy F. Aarons Scholarship Award

Leroy F. Aarons dedicated his life to journalism. He believed that the LGBTQ community could advance if the news media fairly and accurately portrayed the lives of LGBTQ individuals and their issues. This simple but visionary idea became the foundation for NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists. Aarons knew that coverage of the LGBTQ community, as well as that of other minority communities, required increasing sophistication and training for journalists. He realized early that improving coverage had to start in the training camps for young journalists – journalism schools at the nation’s colleges and universities.

In NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists’ 15th year, the Leroy F. Aarons Scholarship Award was established to honor Aarons’ memory and to continue the work he began when he founded NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists in 1990. The scholarship award for the 2022-2023 academic year will provide up to $5,000 in tuition funding to an LGBTQ student who plans a career in journalism and is committed to furthering NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists’ mission of fair and accurate coverage of the LGBTQ community.

Contributors

NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists is grateful to its members, friends and corporate sponsors who have contributed to the NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists Scholarship Fund, including CNN’s inaugural gift of $100,000 in January of 2006.

Criteria

Applicants must be planning to pursue a career in journalism, be able to demonstrate their passion and commitment to the profession. Selection will be based on journalistic and scholastic ability. Applicants also must demonstrate an awareness of the issues facing the LGBTQ community and the importance of fair and accurate news coverage. For undergraduates, a declared major in journalism and/or communications is desirable but not required. Non-journalism majors may demonstrate their commitment to a journalism career through work samples, internships, and work on a school news publication, online news service or broadcast affiliate. Graduate students must be enrolled in a journalism program. Applicants must be NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists members in good standing.

Who Can Apply

Current or incoming undergrad students enrolled in a U.S. community college or four-year university. Proof of acceptance or current enrollment required.

Current or incoming graduate students enrolled in an accredited journalism or mass communications field. Proof of acceptance or current enrollment required.