Scholarships and Awards

The UNLV Greenspun College of Urban Affairs has received generous funding from donors and the community to create scholarships available to to undergraduate and graduate students. Scholarship opportunities are available to all students, and by department.

Please note not all awards below include funding opportunities. Check with your department for more information.

Information about scholarships will be posted on this page as it becomes available. Please contact Sarah Truby, director of development, at sarah.truby@unlv.edu with any questions.

CSUN/GCUA Continuing Education Grant

The Continuing Education Grant from UNLV's CSUN Student Government and the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs will be awarded to graduating seniors who are facing financial hardships or barriers that may affect their ability to complete remaining coursework.

Award Amounts: Funds are limited and can only be used to assist with tuition and fees. Funds will be directly applied to a student's account and will not exceed the amount owed to UNLV.

Application deadline is 5 p.m. on Friday, May 9, 2025.

Greenspun College of Urban Affairs Alumni Chapter Scholarships

5 for 5 Scholarship

The 5 for 5 Scholarship is available for undergraduate students currently enrolled in one of the five departments or schools housed in the College of Urban Affairs. Five scholarships of $500 scholarships each will be awarded to five total undergraduate students.

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Department of Communication Studies

Scholarships

Outstanding Student Creative Communication Project Award

This award is given to a student who completes an outstanding project in a communication class. The award is meant to recognize creative assignments that do not take the form of a paper. Examples may include presentations, videos, and podcasts. The award is given on a calendar year basis (e.g., Spring-Fall 2024). Faculty may nominate projects or students may self-nominate.

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Applications are due March 7, 2025. Email rebecca.rice@unlv.edu with questions.

Eligibility

Must be a COM major
Submit a final project from a COM class that is creative--not a paper (e.g., podcast, website, final presentation).
Rigorously created: The project is based on communication theory or research.
Professional & polished: The final project is of high quality, accurate, and communicates well.
Creativity/innovation: The project is not formulaic, but is creative, and shows personal insights.
Submit the project and the grading rubric for the project.
Students or professors can nominate projects.

Communication Rising Star Award

This award recognizes first and second-year (under 60 credits) standing COM majors who are contributing both in and outside of the classroom.

This award will be offered to up to two students in each standing ([First Year / under 30 credits] AND [Second Year / under 60 credits]) per year.

This award includes a $500 scholarship.

Apply Now

Applications are due March 7, 2025. Email rebecca.rice@unlv.edu with questions.

Eligibility

COM Majors with under 60 credits (freshman or sophomore status)
Excellent academic performance as demonstrated through grades, projects completed, and assessments of in-class performance.
Involvement within the COM major, UNLV community, or greater community.
Students can self-nominate or be nominated by professors.
Submit a resume.
Students submit a 1-page letter of interest explaining why they deserve the award OR professors submit a 1-page nominating letter on the student’s behalf.

Non-Monetary Awards

The Misti Yang Outstanding Research Award

Students will submit a one to two-page nomination. Students’ one to two-page nomination letter should highlight their excellence in research, broadly defined. Students should discuss their research interests, trajectory, guiding questions, theories, and methods, and provide evidence of research products and outputs. For example, students may discuss the quality of their culminating project, presentations at conferences, participation in campus research events (such as 3 Minute Thesis and the Greenspun Symposium), submitting research for publications (scholarly or public-facing), collaboration with faculty on research, and any other research-related experiences or products.

The 5 pages of supplemental materials can include but are not limited to:

1 paragraph statement of support from a faculty member collaborator or advisor
Copies of conference or publication submission and/or acceptance
Google Drive links to copies of culminating project chapters, course papers, and/or research products
Evidence of participation/acceptance in on-campus research symposiums
Copies of research posters, slides, or other research products

Graduate Award for Outstanding Teaching

Students’ 1-2 page nomination letter should highlight their excellence in teaching. Students should address their creativity and use of innovative classroom activities, their willingness to help students, the basic course director, and other instructors, any training or certifications completed related to teaching, their engaging presence in the classroom, and involvement in pedagogical research and development. The committee will also review students’ classroom observation documents provided by the basic course director.

The 5 pages of supplemental materials can include but are not limited to:

1 paragraph statement of support from instructor or basic course director
Letters of support from students
Peer observation letters
Materials created for the classroom
Copies of certifications or evidence of completed trainings

Graduate Award for Community Leadership

Students’ 1-2 page nomination letter should highlight their participation in community leadership, broadly defined. Students should discuss engagement at the department, college, university, and/or local community. For example, students may discuss leadership roles in the department or on/off campus, student organization work, advocacy initiatives, community-engaged research or programs, event planning, volunteering, advocating and recruiting for the COM department, and supporting department initiatives such as the COM lab and the Public Communication Initiative.

The 5 pages of supplemental materials can include but is not limited to:

1 paragraph statement of support from instructor, COM advisor, or student organization advisor
letters of support from peers, student organization members, community partners, etc.
materials, fliers, and other documents developed for student organizations or community groups
position descriptions for leadership roles held
media or event coverage

COMLab Coach of the Year

This award is given to a student who has worked in the COMLab, helping students prepare for public speaking assignments. COMLab coaches help to ease nerves, gain confidence, improve arguments and delivery. The award is given to the coach who received the highest rating from COMLab attendees over the last academic year.

Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies

The School of Journalism and Media Studies awards over $20,000 in scholarships every year ranging from $500 to $2,500. We are grateful for our many donors and the scholarship opportunities they make available for our students.

Scholarships

Alicia Karau Memorial Scholarship
- This scholarship will be awarded to a Nevada resident with a minimum 3.5 GPA.
Barbara Cloud Memorial Scholarship
- This scholarship is open to students majoring in Journalism and Media Studies.
Dorothy Mae Freischel Journalism Scholarship
- This scholarship is available to a full time student with a minimum 2.7 GPA.
Hank Greenspun School of Journalism Scholarship
Hank Kovell Scholarship
- This scholarship requires a minimum 3.0 GPA. Preference will be given towards a student with interest in print journalism.
Jacques G. Francoeur Scholarship Fund
- This scholarship is available to a full time student who is a Nevada resident with a minimum 3.0 GPA and demonstrated financial need.
Maury Stevens Memorial Scholarship
- The Maury Stevens Memorial Scholarship is for a full time student.
Michael Zigler Memorial Scholarship
- This scholarship is for a full time student with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
Ned Day Scholarship
- The purpose of the Ned Day Memorial Scholarship is to continue the tradition of solid journalism, unbiased reporting, and unwavering support of the First Amendment and the responsibilities of the Free Press.
Polly Gonzales Memorial Scholarship
- The purpose of the Polly Gonzalez Memorial Scholarship is to provide financial support to students at the sophomore level and above pursuing a degree in Journalism. Preference is given to first generation students. Must have a minimum 2.5 GPA.
Ruthe V. Deskin Memorial Scholarship
- The Ruth Deskin Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to students who are majoring in Journalism and Media Studies and have an interest in print journalism. Students must have a minimum 3.5 GPA, and can be full or part time.
Tony Ferri Memorial Scholarship
- This scholarship will be awarded to a full or part time Nevada resident with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Scholarship applications are due February 28, 2025. If you have any questions, contact the journalism’s school’s scholarship committee chair, Dave Nourse, dave.nourse@unlv.edu.

Apply Now

Department of Criminal Justice Awards

The Department of Criminal Justice offers a number of scholarships and non-monetary awards to their undergraduate and graduate students.

Scholarships

Non-Monetary Awards

School of Social Work

Best Student for BSW, and MSW Concentrations
Nevada Public Health Foundation Scholarship
- This scholarship is available for undergraduate (junior or senior) or graduate students with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Students must be Nevada residents, and can be full or part time. Preference is given to students with an interest in gerontology, and who have shown leadership during their practicum or engagement with student organizations.

Urban Affairs Greenspun College of Urban Affairs

Urban Affairs

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