About the SCPA Foundation
The South Carolina Press Association Foundation encourages talented young people to enter the newspaper business and provides training and growth opportunities for working professionals. For more information, or to make a donation, click here.

SCPA Foundation Scholarships and Internships
Each year, the Foundation awards scholarships and internships to S.C. college students.

Three or more interns are placed each summer at daily and weekly member newspapers, allowing students invaluable real-world training experience.

The Foundation also awards up to three scholarships each year to rising college juniors interested in pursuing newspaper careers.

The premier scholarship, for $3500, is named for the Foundation's first president, the late Frank R. Mundy of the Greenwood Index-Journal.

Smoak Scholarship Fund for newspaper professionals
The Smoak Scholarship Fund is now available through the S.C. Press Association Foundation to help newspaper professionals pursue business educational opportunities. 

This award is presented in remembrance of Joseph M. Smoak, longtime vice president and general manager of The Evening Post Co. in Charleston. Smoak was president of the Press Association in 1991 and is remembered for his sharp newspaper business acumen. He died in 1993.

Rather than provide an annual scholarship to one or two individuals per year, the SCPA Foundation Board has created a plan that will allow for a larger number of people to receive educational assistance through the Smoak Scholarship Fund. This help can be for such things as tuition assistance, scholarships to business seminars or workshops, or other educational opportunities that may be available. 

This plan allows member newspapers, on behalf of current employees, to request one-time assistance for an employee who is pursuing additional education or training opportunities. Unlike the current scholarships awarded by the SCPA Foundation to aspiring journalists, and in keeping with Mr. Smoak’s background, all Smoak funds will be awarded only to students or professionals who are interested in the business aspects of the newspaper field. 

The Smoak fund now has sufficient assets to distribute up to $6,000 per year. Scholarship awards are not limited to a particular school or type of program, and the percentage of program costs covered will be dependent upon both the number of applicants requesting assistance and upon the perceived relevance of the program under consideration. Priority will be given to assist as many applicants as possible. All member newspapers are eligible to request educational assistance from the Smoak fund. 

SCPA Foundation Golf Tournament
The S.C. Foundation hosts a golf tournament each spring to raise money for South Carolina’s up-and-coming journalists. This year, the Foundation held its 19th annual Golf Tournament in May at Fort Jackson Golf Club in Columbia. Thank you to our 2008 golfers and sponsors, who came out for a great day of golf and barbecue and helped us raise enough money to fund an internship. If you would like information about sponsoring next year’s tournament, to be held in spring 2009, contact Jen Barclay at jbarclay@scpress.org.