Student Awards

Applications for this AY scholarships are now open!

This year's deadline: October 31, 2025.

Every year, the Department of Communication Studies awards several scholarships to recognize COMM majors who are outstanding students and/or department citizens.

Students self-nominate in the fall (the application period is typically October 1- October 31). Application materials are reviewed and awards are announced by the end of the term, with awards disbursed at the beginning of Spring semester.

The department will recognize awardees, and all our majors, for their hard-earned achievements, dedication to their COMM programs, extracurricular activities, and more at an end-of-year event. Check back in March for more information about our Spring 2026 Awards Ceremony and End of Year Celebration. All COMM majors are welcome. Family and friends of award recipients and graduates are also cordially invited!

2026 Awards:

A note on AI: You are free to use AI to help with grammar, syntax, and vocabulary, but what most helps our judges get to know you is your own voice. If you draft or do "clean up" using generative AI, we strongly recommend reviewing and revising to make your statement is specific and personal to you and your accomplishments. 

Millage Scholarship for Juniors Majoring in Communication Studies 

Award Sponsor: Heather McFadden Millage
For: To support students who exemplify Heather McFadden Millage's passion for life, people and communication.
Eligibility: Applicants must be Communication Studies majors who have completed at least 60 and no more than 89 units.
Exclusions: Students who received a department scholarship last spring will not be considered this year.
Amount: $1,500. 
Prompt: Applicants will be asked to provide their overall GPA and to respond to the following question: In at least 300 words and no more than 500 words, share what you have learned about communication at SJSU, and how you plan to use what you have learned to make a difference in the world.
 

Millage Scholarship for Seniors Majoring in Communication Studies

Award Sponsor: Heather McFadden Millage
For: To support students who exemplify Heather McFadden Millage's passion for life, people and communication.
Eligibility: Applicants must be communication studies majors who have completed 90 units but not yet graduated.
Exclusions: Students who received a department scholarship last spring will not be considered this year.
Amount: $3,000. 
Prompt: Applicants will be asked to provide their overall GPA and to respond to the following question: In at least 300 words and no more than 500 words, share what you have learned about communication at SJSU, and how you plan to use what you have learned to make a difference in the world.

Sproule Excellence in Research and Creative Activity Scholarship

Award Sponsor: Professor Emeritus J. Michael Sproule and Dr. Betty Sproule
For: Outstanding student research and/or creative activities;
Eligibility: Applicants must be communication studies majors who have completed 90 units but not yet graduated. MA students are eligible.
Exclusions: Students who received a department scholarship last spring will not be considered this year.
Amount: $1,000. 
Prompt: Applicants will be asked to provide their overall GPA and a response to the following question: In at least 400 words and no more than 600 words, describe a research project or creative work, such as a performance, that you completed in one of your Communication Studies classes. The project could be from any of your COMM classes and might involve, for example, data collection and analysis, interviews, interpretation of a text, image, or cultural artifact, or presentation of research through a performance or applied activity. What did you discover through your research? What made your project notable? What would be a possible future step for someone continuing your work?

Minnie Carr Excellence in Service Scholarship 

Award Sponsor: Dr. Marie Carr, in memory of her mother, Minnie Carr.
For: Graduating seniors who have performed significant service to our department.
Eligibility: Applicants must be communication studies majors who have completed 90 units but not yet graduated.
Exclusions: Students who received a department scholarship last spring will not be considered this year.
Amount: $1,000. 
Prompt: Applicants will be asked to provide their Overall GPA and a response to the following question: In at least 300 words and no more than 500 words, describe your impact on the Department of Communication Studies. How have you made a difference to other Communication students, faculty, and/or staff? What makes your service to the COMM department significant, notable, exceptional, and/or compelling?

Shannon Doyle Award for Study Abroad

Award Sponsor: The Doyle family, in honor of former COMM lecturer, Shannon Doyle.
For: Study abroad.
Eligibility: SJSU students participating in study abroad at SJSU; preference given to applications majoring in Communication Studies.
Exclusions: Students who received a department scholarship last spring will not be considered this year.
Amount: $500. 
Prompt: Applicants will be asked to provide their overall GPA and a response to the following question: In at least 300 words and no more than 500 words, describe how you intend to apply your study abroad experiences towards your personal and/or professional goals. Submissions will be evaluated based on clarity and specificity.
 

Outstanding Graduate Student

For: Academic achievement in graduate study in the MA program in Communication Studies at SJSU.
Eligibility: Nominees should exemplify academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, and demonstrate progress made toward compelling scholarly contributions, for example, through conference presentations, publications, research assistantships, participation in the Grad Slam, etc. Nominees should also model collegiality toward peers and faculty, such as respect for different forms of scholarship and diverse styles of learning and teaching, and creative ways of applying scholarly work for the benefit of others. 
Exclusions: Students who received a department scholarship last spring will not be considered this year.
Amount: $1000.

Prompt: Applicants will be asked to provide their overall GPA (in the MA program) and a response to the following question: In at least 400 words and no more than 600 words, describe how your graduate work demonstrates your scholarly achievements and potential, as well your positive engagement with members of the department.

Outstanding Graduate Citizen

For: MA students who have performed significant service to our department.
Eligibility: The recipient of this award is recognized for their exceptional level of engagement with the program, department, and university in ways that strengthen our community. This includes leading or participating in MA Program events and initiatives, service to the department, and activities that promote collaboration and engagement with all members of the university.
Exclusions: Students who received a department scholarship last spring will not be considered this year.
Amount: $1,000. 
Prompt: Applicants will be asked to provide their overall GPA and a response to the following question: In at least 400 words and no more than 600 words, describe the activities that demonstrate your positive impact on the program, department, and/or the broader SJSU community.

APPLY HERE

URL link: https://forms.gle/dy8MqNyDqWH3Lu9GA

Note: you will need to use your SJSU credentials (email address) to submit the application.