The Rhonda Swan Memorial Scholarship

The Rhonda Swan Memorial Scholarship honors Rhonda Swan, a Journalism major who graduated in 1987 and became the first African American city editor at The Republican in Springfield. She later worked at The News Journal in Delaware and The Palm Beach Post in Florida, garnering numerous awards and recognition during her career as a journalist, including from the New England Associated Press, the News Executive Association, and the National Association of Black Journalists. Her family established this award in her memory. This scholarship is awarded to Journalism majors in good academic standing at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Preference is given to students from Springfield, MA, who are underrepresented in the Journalism Department. The scholarship provides $1,000 to support students pursuing their journalism education and career aspirations. Applicants are required to submit an essay describing their aspirations for working in journalism and how they envision their future work will make a positive difference in the world. Students may optionally indicate if they are from Springfield, MA, or if they identify with an educational, cultural, or geographic background that is underrepresented in the Journalism Department.