The Youngstown Press Club Scholarship Program
Committed to education and scholarship, the Youngstown Press Club awards college scholarships to juniors and seniors studying journalism and related fields.
The Youngstown Press Club will award $4,000 scholarships this year. The scholarships will go to college juniors and seniors who live in a five-county area in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys, who are majoring in journalism, broadcasting, public relations, communications, marketing, advertising, or another related field.
The Youngstown Press Club will award $4,000 scholarships this year. The scholarships will go to college juniors and seniors who live in a five-county area in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys, who are majoring in journalism, broadcasting, public relations, communications, marketing, advertising, or another related field.
2025 Scholarship Winners Announced
Nicarlyle Hanchard
|
Aicha Sawaneh
|
Emily Wilaj
|
Three Youngstown State University students will receive $4,000 scholarships from the Youngstown Press Club.
Aicha A. Sawaneh, of Liberty Township, who is originally from Sierra Leone, West Africa, is a communication major concentrating in digital communication and public relations.
A student orientation ambassador, Sawaneh helps to manage student-focused digital campaigns and produce social media content in the university's office of marketing and communications.
Nicarlyle Hanchard of Niles is a journalism major with a minor in sociology.
A reporter and columnist for The Jambar - the university's student newspaper - Hanchard will soon become that paper's arts and entertainment editor.
Hanchard hopes to work as a reporter for a few years before pursuing a master's or law degree.
Emily Wilaj of Campbell, is pursuing two degrees, in marketing and sports journalism.
Wilaj works for YSU in three capacities - in marketing and promotions for YSU athletics, on-court PA announcing at basketball games, and is a social media intern with the university.
The scholarship recipients will be honored at the press club's Sept. 24 Hall of Fame and Awards Dinner at Stambaugh Auditorium.
Youngstown Press Club scholarships are funded by donations and proceeds from the club’s events.
Aicha A. Sawaneh, of Liberty Township, who is originally from Sierra Leone, West Africa, is a communication major concentrating in digital communication and public relations.
A student orientation ambassador, Sawaneh helps to manage student-focused digital campaigns and produce social media content in the university's office of marketing and communications.
Nicarlyle Hanchard of Niles is a journalism major with a minor in sociology.
A reporter and columnist for The Jambar - the university's student newspaper - Hanchard will soon become that paper's arts and entertainment editor.
Hanchard hopes to work as a reporter for a few years before pursuing a master's or law degree.
Emily Wilaj of Campbell, is pursuing two degrees, in marketing and sports journalism.
Wilaj works for YSU in three capacities - in marketing and promotions for YSU athletics, on-court PA announcing at basketball games, and is a social media intern with the university.
The scholarship recipients will be honored at the press club's Sept. 24 Hall of Fame and Awards Dinner at Stambaugh Auditorium.
Youngstown Press Club scholarships are funded by donations and proceeds from the club’s events.
Scholarship Applicants
College juniors and seniors majoring in journalism, broadcasting, public relations, communications, marketing, advertising, or another related field may apply for a Youngstown Press Club scholarship.
Applicants must be a resident of Mahoning, Trumbull or Columbiana county in Ohio, or Lawrence or Mercer county in Pennsylvania. Applicants may be enrolled in a college anywhere.
Applicants must be a resident of Mahoning, Trumbull or Columbiana county in Ohio, or Lawrence or Mercer county in Pennsylvania. Applicants may be enrolled in a college anywhere.
Scholarship Fund Donors
The Youngstown Press Club is extremely appreciative of its many supporters and donors to its scholarship fund. To donate, please contact Diane Laney Fitzpatrick, executive director, at [email protected].
Friend $50 - $99
Wes Boyd
Linda Collins
Justin Dennis
Mary Dota
Gerri Jenkins
Pierina Morelli
Michael and Laura Stepp
Robin Zambrini
Supporter $100 - $249
Lisa Abraham and Richard Hart
Mary Beth Breckenridge
Ernie Brown
Adam and Mary Beth Earnheardt
Lori Factor
Jack Grdic
Tim and Laura Harrington
Dennis Mangan
Tony Paglia
Alan and Debbi Ponzio
Beth Prizant and John Fahnert
Nick Rich
Becky Rose
Jeff Sheban
Elise and David Skolnick
Chris Travers
Susan Wardle-Burke
Patron $250 - $499
JoAnn Kolarik
Peter H. Milliken
Dan Pecchia
Andrea Wood and Dennis LaRue
Benefactor $500 - $749
Tim and Diane Laney Fitzpatrick
Bart Gilmore
Pillar $2,500 - $4,999
The Frank and Pearl Gelbman Charitable Foundation
Wes Boyd
Linda Collins
Justin Dennis
Mary Dota
Gerri Jenkins
Pierina Morelli
Michael and Laura Stepp
Robin Zambrini
Supporter $100 - $249
Lisa Abraham and Richard Hart
Mary Beth Breckenridge
Ernie Brown
Adam and Mary Beth Earnheardt
Lori Factor
Jack Grdic
Tim and Laura Harrington
Dennis Mangan
Tony Paglia
Alan and Debbi Ponzio
Beth Prizant and John Fahnert
Nick Rich
Becky Rose
Jeff Sheban
Elise and David Skolnick
Chris Travers
Susan Wardle-Burke
Patron $250 - $499
JoAnn Kolarik
Peter H. Milliken
Dan Pecchia
Andrea Wood and Dennis LaRue
Benefactor $500 - $749
Tim and Diane Laney Fitzpatrick
Bart Gilmore
Pillar $2,500 - $4,999
The Frank and Pearl Gelbman Charitable Foundation
Honored at the Youngstown Press Club Hall of Fame and Awards Dinner on Sept. 25, 2024, were the 2024 Youngstown Press Clib scholarship winners, Molly Burke and Merrick Morneweck.
|
Hannah Werle, a 2023 Youngstown Press Club scholarship winner, accepts her award from Ernie Brown Jr. at the 2025 Hall of Fame and Awards Dinner.
|
Donate to the Youngstown Press Club Scholarship Fund
The Youngstown Press Club raises funds throughout the year for its scholarship fund.
A portion of any profits from Youngstown Press Club events go directly to the scholarship fund.
Individual and corporate donors directly to the scholarship fund will be recognized under the following levels:.
A portion of any profits from Youngstown Press Club events go directly to the scholarship fund.
Individual and corporate donors directly to the scholarship fund will be recognized under the following levels:.
Friend - $50 - $99
Supporter - $100 - $249
Patron - $250 - $499
Benefactor - $500 - $749
Advocate - $750 - $999
Champion - $1,000 - $2,499
Pillar - $2,500 - $4,999
VIP - $5,000 and up
Supporter - $100 - $249
Patron - $250 - $499
Benefactor - $500 - $749
Advocate - $750 - $999
Champion - $1,000 - $2,499
Pillar - $2,500 - $4,999
VIP - $5,000 and up