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.
This year (2023) the Youngstown Press Club awards its first scholarships: One $2,000 scholarship for a journalism major and one $2,000 scholarship for related fields in communications, such as public relations, marketing, broadcasting, and communications-related fields.
The scholarships were open to students from a five-county area in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys entering their junior or senior year of college.
This year (2023) the Youngstown Press Club awards its first scholarships: One $2,000 scholarship for a journalism major and one $2,000 scholarship for related fields in communications, such as public relations, marketing, broadcasting, and communications-related fields.
The scholarships were open to students from a five-county area in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys entering their junior or senior year of college.
2023 Scholarship Winners
The Youngstown Press Club awarded $2,000 scholarships to two college juniors this year.
The $2,000 awards were made to Hannah Werle of Girard, a journalism major at Youngstown State University, and Gianna Effinite of West Middlesex, a corporate communication major at the Penn State University Shenango Campus.
Werle, who is a junior in Youngstown State University's Sokolov Honors College, is a double major in journalism and communication, with a minor in English. She is a student assistant in the university's office of marketing and communications and the assistant copy editor at The Jambar, the university's student newspaper. She participates in the Presidential Residence Housing Leaders program, the Student Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Board and the Commencement Committee. Werle has published articles through The Jambar, the YSU News Center, and the Business Journal. In addition, several of her articles written for the YSU News Center have been republished by local news outlets, such as WKBN and Mahoning Matters.
Effinite, a junior corporate communication major at Penn State University at Shenango, has been on the dean's list since the fall of 2020. She has an abiding interest in golf, saying she enjoys promoting the game and that her goal is to work in the golf industry. Since May 2018, Effinite has been a golf shop assistant at the Tam O'Shanter Golf Course in Hermitage, where she organizes new product displays, trains new co-workers and participates in promotional videos.
Werle and Effinite were recognized at the press club's Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 7 at Stambaugh Auditorium.
The scholarships are funded by club membership dues, proceeds from club events and direct donations from individuals and the club's corporate sponsors.
The $2,000 awards were made to Hannah Werle of Girard, a journalism major at Youngstown State University, and Gianna Effinite of West Middlesex, a corporate communication major at the Penn State University Shenango Campus.
Werle, who is a junior in Youngstown State University's Sokolov Honors College, is a double major in journalism and communication, with a minor in English. She is a student assistant in the university's office of marketing and communications and the assistant copy editor at The Jambar, the university's student newspaper. She participates in the Presidential Residence Housing Leaders program, the Student Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Board and the Commencement Committee. Werle has published articles through The Jambar, the YSU News Center, and the Business Journal. In addition, several of her articles written for the YSU News Center have been republished by local news outlets, such as WKBN and Mahoning Matters.
Effinite, a junior corporate communication major at Penn State University at Shenango, has been on the dean's list since the fall of 2020. She has an abiding interest in golf, saying she enjoys promoting the game and that her goal is to work in the golf industry. Since May 2018, Effinite has been a golf shop assistant at the Tam O'Shanter Golf Course in Hermitage, where she organizes new product displays, trains new co-workers and participates in promotional videos.
Werle and Effinite were recognized at the press club's Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 7 at Stambaugh Auditorium.
The scholarships are funded by club membership dues, proceeds from club events and direct donations from individuals and the club's corporate sponsors.
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 youngstownpressclub@gmail.com.
Friend $50 - $99
Ellen Sullivan
Emily Webster Love
Tricia Perry
Ronald Mangan
Judith Ceci
Yosay Photography, Janet and Robert Yosay
Tom and Janet Williams
Lori Factor
Jack Grdic
Brenda Linert
Mike Braun
Pierina Morelli
Supporter $100 - $249
Ernie Brown
Adam and Mary Beth Earnheardt
Lisa Abraham
Lynda Norton
John Faunert
Dennis Mangan
Brendan Mangan
Jeff Sheban
Andrea Wood and Dennis LaRue
Lisa and Mark Niquette
Mary Beth and Tom Breckenridge
Patron $250 - $499
JoAnn Kolarik
Mark and Cara Beaumont
Dan Pecchia
Benefactor $500 - $749
Simon and Abi Werle
Pillar $2,500 - $4,999
Alyssa Lenhoff-Briggs and Rob Briggs
Ellen Sullivan
Emily Webster Love
Tricia Perry
Ronald Mangan
Judith Ceci
Yosay Photography, Janet and Robert Yosay
Tom and Janet Williams
Lori Factor
Jack Grdic
Brenda Linert
Mike Braun
Pierina Morelli
Supporter $100 - $249
Ernie Brown
Adam and Mary Beth Earnheardt
Lisa Abraham
Lynda Norton
John Faunert
Dennis Mangan
Brendan Mangan
Jeff Sheban
Andrea Wood and Dennis LaRue
Lisa and Mark Niquette
Mary Beth and Tom Breckenridge
Patron $250 - $499
JoAnn Kolarik
Mark and Cara Beaumont
Dan Pecchia
Benefactor $500 - $749
Simon and Abi Werle
Pillar $2,500 - $4,999
Alyssa Lenhoff-Briggs and Rob Briggs
Donating 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
If you would like to be donor, please contact Diane Laney Fitzpatrick, executive director, at youngstownpressclub@gmail.com.
Applying for a Youngstown Press Club Scholarship
Application Criteria 2024
Access scholarship application HERE
After filling in the scholarship application, download it to your computer. Applications and all attachments should be emailed to the Youngstown Press Club at youngstownpressclub@gmail.com.
- Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and must submit proof of their GPA.
- Applicants must live in one of the following counties: Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana in Ohio, and Mercer and Lawrence in Pennsylvania. Applicants may be enrolled in schools outside these counties.
- Applicants must submit a minimum of two writing or broadcast samples.
- Applicants should provide examples of community involvement.
- Deadline to apply will be announced in early 2024.
- Scholarship recipients are encouraged to attend the annual Youngstown Press Club Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet in September.
Access scholarship application HERE
After filling in the scholarship application, download it to your computer. Applications and all attachments should be emailed to the Youngstown Press Club at youngstownpressclub@gmail.com.