The Buffalo Association of Black Journalists is accepting applications for its fifth annual Carl R. Allen Memorial Scholarship. The deadline is June 30.

The Buffalo News and the Buffalo Newspaper Guild also contribute to the competitive $1,000 scholarship. The scholarship is open to African-American high school seniors, as well as college freshmen, sophomores and juniors who are or will be pursuing studies leading to a career in journalism. Prior BABJ scholarship winners are ineligible to apply. Applicants must be permanent residents of Erie or Niagara counties and have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher.

In addition to filling out an application form, students must submit three letters of recommendation, samples of their work, a brief autobiography, resume and proof of enrollment in an accredited four-year college or university. Mail completed applications to: Buffalo Association of Black Journalists, P.O. Box 736, Ellicott Station, Buffalo, NY 14205.

Applications are available in the financial aid office at the University at Buffalo; the Minority Student Services office at Buffalo State College; the Communications Studies Department at Niagara University; and the Office of Equity and Diversity at Niagara County Community College.

Applications also may be obtained at Buffalo public high schools, Niagara Falls High School or by calling 849-5598.

The BABJ scholarship is awarded annually in memory of Carl R. Allen, a longtime reporter at The Buffalo News who died in November 1999. Allen was a Buffalo native and cum laude graduate of Buffalo State College. An award-winning journalist, he wrote extensively on matters of concern to the local African-American community during his 20-year career.

Leonardo da Vinci High School graduate Aaron J. Mays, now enrolled at Northwestern University in Chicago, was last year’s winner.

The BABJ formed in 1999 to advocate for increased minority representation in local newsrooms at both the staff and management levels. The organization also is dedicated to improving local coverage of issues important to minorities. It is a local affiliate of the National Association of Black Journalists, the world’s largest organization for people of color working in mass media.

This entry was posted on Monday, April 24th, 2006 at 8:15 pm and is filed under Scholarship. Tags: College, Financial Aid, Scholarship, Student. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.