The NSPRA Foundation for the Advancement of Education is an independent, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1985 for the following purposes:

The Foundation is administered by a board of directors comprised of current NSPRA Executive Board members and is housed at NSPRA headquarters in Rockville, Md.

Guided by its major purposes, the Foundation funds several scholarships to the NSPRA National Seminar each year and offers an annual research grant opportunity for chapters or individual members.

---

 

• Foundation Scholarships to the National NSPRA Seminar
   
• The Dawn K. McDowell Memorial Scholarship
    
• The Don Bagin Memorial Scholarship
    
• The Pat Jackson Seminar Scholarship
   
• 2012 Chicago Seminar Scholarship
   
• The Barry Gaskins Mentor Legacy Scholarship
    
• The Bob Grossman Leadership in School Communications Award
   
• Foundation Research Grants  

---

  
♦ The NSPRA Foundation Scholarships ♦

Each year, the Foundation offers two scholarships to individuals who are new to school public relations with the intention of expanding their knowledge of the profession and introducing them to the benefits of NSPRA membership. Each scholarship covers a Seminar registration and also provides an additional $250 stipend toward related expenses. One of these scholarships is designated for a school public relations practitioner who is an ethnic minority.

To be eligible for application candidates must:

• Have worked in school public relations less than three years;
• Have never attended an NSPRA National Seminar;
• Be employed in a full-time professional school public relations position;
• Be a member in good standing of an NSPRA state chapter (unless there is no chapter in the member’s state); and
• Have not yet registered for the current year’s National Seminar (current registrations cannot be replaced by scholarships).

NSPRA membership is not required to qualify for eligibility.

Deadline for applications: February 1. Scholarship recipients will be approved at the March meeting of the NSPRA Executive Board and recipients will be notified at that time.

Download the 2012 NSPRA Scholarship Application.

BACK TO TOP OF PAGE
   

---

  
♦ The Dawn K. McDowell Memorial Scholarship ♦

The Dawn K. McDowell Memorial Scholarship is administered by the Foundation and was made possible by the generous donations of family, NSPRA colleagues and the Minnesota School Public Relations Association (MinnSPRA) in her memory. The scholarship covers the cost of a registration to the NSPRA National Seminar. 

To be eligible for application candidates must:

• Have never attended an NSPRA National Seminar;
• Be employed in a full-time professional school public relations position;
• Be a member in good standing of an NSPRA state chapter (unless there is no chapter in the member’s state); and
• Have not yet registered for the current year’s National Seminar (current registrations cannot be replaced by scholarships).

NSPRA membership is not required to qualify for eligibility.

Deadline for applications: February 1. The scholarship recipient will be approved at the March meeting of the NSPRA Executive Board and the recipient will be notified at that time.

Download the 2012 Dawn K. McDowell Memorial Scholarship Application.

BACK TO TOP OF PAGE
   

---

   
♦ The Don Bagin Memorial Scholarship ♦

The Don Bagin Memorial Scholarship is administered by the Foundation and was made possible by the generous donations of NSPRA colleagues and members in his memory. The scholarship covers the cost of a registration to the NSPRA National Seminar.

To be eligible for application candidates must:

• Have never attended an NSPRA National Seminar;
• Be employed in a full-time professional school public relations position or have significant responsibility for managing communications for a school system or education agency/association;
• Have not yet registered for the current year’s National Seminar (current registrations cannot be replaced by scholarships).

NSPRA membership is not required to qualify for eligibility.

Deadline for applications: February 1. The scholarship recipient will be approved at the March meeting of the NSPRA Executive Board and the recipient will be notified at that time.

Download the 2012 Don Bagin Memorial Scholarship Application.

BACK TO TOP OF PAGE
   

---

   
♦ The Pat Jackson Seminar Scholarship ♦

The Pat Jackson Seminar Scholarship is administered by the Foundation and was made possible by the generous donations of NSPRA colleagues and family in his memory. The scholarship covers the cost of a registration to the NSPRA National Seminar.  

To be eligible for application candidates must:

• Must hold a professional membership with NSPRA;
• Have a minimum of three and a maximum of five years of experience in public relations, with a minimum of one of those years spent in school public relations;
• Be employed in a full-time professional school public relations position;
• Have not yet registered for the current year’s National Seminar (current registrations cannot be replaced by scholarships).  

Deadline for applications: February 1. The scholarship recipient will be approved at the March meeting of the NSPRA Executive Board and the recipient will be notified at that time.

Download the 2012 Pat Jackson Seminar Scholarship Application.

BACK TO TOP OF PAGE

---

♦ The 2012 Chicago Seminar Scholarship ♦

The 2012 Chicago Seminar Scholarship is administered by the Foundation and was made possible by the Executive Director's personal donation to the NSPRA Executive Board for the purpose of providing a deserving member with the opportunity to attend the Chicago Seminar. The scholarship covers the cost of a registration to the NSPRA National Seminar.  

To be eligible for application candidates must:

• Must hold a professional membership with NSPRA;
• Have a minimum of two and a maximum of five years of experience in public relations, with a minimum of one of those years spent in school public relations;
• Be employed in a full-time professional school public relations position;
• Have not yet registered for the current year’s National Seminar (current registrations cannot be replaced by scholarships).  

Deadline for applications: February 1. The scholarship recipient will be approved at the March meeting of the NSPRA Executive Board and the recipient will be notified at that time.

Download the 2012 Chicago Seminar Scholarship Application.

BACK TO TOP OF PAGE
 

---

 ♦ The Barry Gaskins Mentor Legacy Scholarship ♦  

The Foundation also administers the Barry Gaskins Mentor Legacy Scholarship to the NSPRA National Seminar each year. There is no application process for this scholarship as the recipient is designated by the recipient of the previous year’s Barry Gaskins Mentor Legacy Award. The award is funded by the Foundation through memorial donations from NSPRA colleagues and chapters. Go to the Recognition Awards page for more information and the award nomination form.

BACK TO TOP OF PAGE
   

---

    
♦ The Bob Grossman Leadership in School Communications Award ♦

The funding for this annual NSPRA award is provided by the Foundation through memorial donations from NSPRA colleagues and chapters. The award recognizes a practicing superintendent or CEO of an education agency or association for outstanding leadership in school public relations and communications. The recipient receives a registration to the NSPRA National Seminar and two nights lodging. Go to the Recognition Awards page for more information.

Deadline for nominations: April 1. The recipient will be determined by a selection committee and named by May 10.

Download the Bob Grossman Leadership in School Communications Award Application
 
Information about the 2011 Award Recipient

 

The 2012 Bob Grossman Leadership in School Communications Award is sponsored by SchoolMessenger. Visit SchoolMessenger to learn more.

 

BACK TO TOP OF PAGE

---

♦ Foundation Research Grants ♦

Each year, the Foundation offers a research grant of $300 to support a project that will add to the body of knowledge of school communications and public relations. NSPRA members and NSPRA state chapters are eligible to apply for the grant.

Proposals must contain:

• Rationale for why the study/project is needed;
• Objectives of the study/project;
• Description of the process;
• Timeline for completion;
• Anticipated budget;
• Name(s) of researcher(s)/project manager(s); and
• Description of any additional funding obtained to support the study/project.

A report on the results of the research study or project will be carried in NSPRA’s membership newsletter, Network, and the grant recipient will be expected to present on the study/project results at the following year’s NSPRA National Seminar.

Deadline for submitting proposals: October 15. Proposals are limited to five pages (single-sided). The grant recipient will be approved by the NSPRA Executive Board at the November meeting and the recipient will be notified at that time.