The Bob Stevens Memorial Scholarship is a $2,000 award presented by the Garden State Scholastic Press Association (GSSPA) to a high school senior who has demonstrated outstanding dedication to their school newspaper or yearbook. This scholarship recognizes student journalists who show exceptional skill, responsibility, and versatility in their work.
Scholarship Details
- Scholarship amount: $2,000.
- Open to high school seniors actively involved in their school’s newspaper or yearbook.
- Applications will be evaluated by a panel of professional journalists from New Jersey.
- Each school’s faculty adviser may nominate one student for this scholarship.
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be a graduating high school senior.
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Participation in high school journalism for at least two years.
- The applicant’s faculty adviser must be a member of GSSPA.
Application Process
- The faculty adviser selects one student journalist to nominate.
- The nominee and adviser prepare a portfolio showcasing the student’s best journalistic work.
- The portfolio must demonstrate:
- Versatility – covering a range of subject areas with skill.
- Responsibility – thorough research and ethical reporting.
- Inquisitiveness – seeking and investigating important topics.
- Skill – producing high-quality and creative work.
- Submit the completed portfolio and application materials by the specified deadline.
Bob Stevens was a dedicated teacher at Highland Park High School for many years, where he served as the adviser to the Highland Fling, the student newspaper. He was one of the founding members of GSSPA, and served as the first president of the organization. After his death, GSSPA started this scholarship to honor his memory to help an aspiring journalist who is a student of a GSSPA member.