Public Affairs Reporting Scholarships

Contact information

Email: Public Affairs Reporting Scholarships
Phone: (217) 206-7494
Office Location: UHB 3016

Several scholarship programs are earmarked for graduate students in the Public Affairs Reporting program. The annual awards are based on academic achievement, financial need and potential for a career in journalism. For more information, contact the director of the Public Affairs Reporting program.

  1. Mark D. Allan PAR Scholarship:

    1. Established by Mr. Allan, a 1986 Public Affairs Reporting graduate and former director of marketing and public relations at Butler University.

  2. James E. Armstrong Scholarship: 

    1. Established in memory of the late publisher of the Illinois State Register and the Illinois State Journal, predecessors of The State Journal-Register in Springfield.

  3. Mary and Jim Beaumont Public Affairs Reporting Scholarship

    1. ​Established by Mary and Jim Beaumont. Mary has a graduate degree in Communication from University of Illinois Springfield and Jim has a graduate degree in Public Affairs from University of Illinois Springfield.

  4. Rich Bradley Memorial Scholarship Fund:

    1. Established by friends and colleagues of the longtime news director at WUIS, Springfield's public radio station. Mr. Bradley was a strong supporter of PAR and mentored many PAR interns.

  5. Class of 1986 Scholarship Fund:

    1. ​Established by members of the PAR Class of 1985-86, the fund supports PAR students who have demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. 

  6. Mary Frances Fagan PAR Memorial Scholarship: 

    1. Established by friends in memory of Ms. Fagan, a 1983 Public Affairs Reporting graduate. Fagan served as assistant press secretary for Govs. Jim Thompson and Jim Edgar. Her career included 23 years as a spokesman for American Airlines. 

  7. Steven B. Hahn Reporting Scholarship: 

    1. Established by his parents in his memory. Hahn was a legislative correspondent for The State Journal-Register and United Press International.

  8. Robert P. Howard Scholarship: 

    1. Established by friends in memory of the late Capitol correspondent for the Chicago Tribune and author of Illinois, A History of the Prairie State.

  9. Illinois Legislative Correspondents Association (ILCA)/Miller and Heinecke Scholarships:

    1. Established in honor of Burnell A. Heinecke, a former Chicago Sun-Times Statehouse correspondent and former ILCA president, and Bill Miller, former director of the PAR program and founding member of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association.

  10. International Student Scholarship Fund:

    1. ​This fund supports scholarships for international students enrolled in the PAR program.

  11. Lee Milner Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund

    1. ​Established in memory of Lee Miller, longtime photojournalist, legislative coordinator, communications professional and friend of the PAR program.

  12. Vu Nguyen Scholarship: 

    1. Established in memory of a 2008 PAR graduate who served as an education reporter for the Daily Breeze in Torrance, CA.

  13. Douglas H. Pokorski Scholarship in Public Affairs Reporting: 

    1. Established in memory of a veteran journalist for The State Journal-Register known for his coverage of education and history.

  14. Thom M. Serafin Public Affairs Reporting Scholarship: ​

    1. Made possible through a gift from Thom Serafin, a 1974 PAR graduate whose distinguished career includes founding and serving as CEO of Serafin and Associates, Inc., serving as press secretary for several national-level political campaigns and serving on the Washington D.C. staff of U.S. Sen. Alan Dixon.

  15. Valerie Wiener Award: 

    1. Made possible through a gift from Valerie Wiener, a former member of the Nevada state senate and founder/CEO of her own consulting firm specializing in media relations, positioning strategies and power presentations.