The Communication Program at UMD offers a variety of awards to recognize and reward exemplary students in the Department. Below are descriptions of these awards and the minimum criteria for applying to each.
The John Ness Memorial Award
The Ness Award is given in honor of our friend and colleague, John Ness, who died in 1987 after 23 years of service to UMD. The Ness Award honors the graduating senior who best combines a solid academic performance with both a broad commitment to service and quality research/scholarship.
Applicants for the Ness Award must:
- Be a graduating senior AND a Communication major
- Have at least 90 credits completed before the spring semester when they apply
- Have a GPA of at least 2.5 overall.
The Virginia T. Katz Scholarship
The Katz Award is given in honor of our friend and colleague, Ginny Katz, who retired from UMD in 2003 after 36 years of service. The Katz Award honors the returning junior who best combines a solid academic performance with both a broad commitment to service and quality research/scholarship.
Applicants for the Katz Scholarship must:
- Be a returning junior AND a Communication major
- Have at least 60 credits completed before the spring semester when they apply
- Have a GPA of at least 2.5 overall.
Greg & Sheila Fox Family Scholarship
Greg and Sheila Fox, both 1971 UMD grads, believe that without UMD, going to college would have been very difficult. Both worked while going to school and were active in campus activities including debate. Sheila was a Head Start Teacher with the Duluth Public Schools and Greg spent his career at UMD. They have seen the impact that access to a quality education can have on individuals and communities.
Applicants for the Fox Family Scholarship must:
- Be an entering senior AND a Communication major
- Demonstrated academic merit
Department Honors Option
If you wish to graduate with department honors in Communication you must be a Communication or Journalism Major at UMD with a minimum 3.30 GPA in all major courses and a 3.30 GPA overall.
If you are interested in graduating with Communication Department Honors, you must write an honors-quality thesis sponsored by a tenured/tenure track Communication Department faculty member and approved by two additional Communication Department faculty and register for 1 credit of COMM 4399 Directed Projects. Candidates should anticipate proposing an Honors thesis during the semester before they intend to graduate and completing the project by Midterm of the semester in which they graduate.
Please contact the department chair or your academic adviser for more information.