William F. Brown, Jr. Scholarship
Presented by the Jerome Foundation
Scholarship Award
An annual $1,000 scholarship given to a deserving graduating senior boy or girl residing in Genesee County, and graduating from a high school in Genesee County, whose intention is to pursue a degree in the field of Journalism, Communications or Public Relations (in print, radio, television or digital media).
Purpose
In memory of the late Batavian William F. Brown Jr., noted author, broadcaster, and journalist who contributed greatly to the quality of life in Genesee County through his writing, and as a member of numerous community and civic organizations. Mr. Brown was former owner and president of WBTA Radio and was also a longtime correspondent for The Buffalo News. He wrote a regular Insights column for The Daily News for many years. He also was a former president of Batavia Rotary Club and one of the charter members of The Jerome Foundation.
Criteria
- Applicants must have permanent residence status in Genesee County, New York.
- Applicants must be completing high school successfully with a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Applicants must be accepted as a full-time student at a college, university, or trade school program for the upcoming academic semester – with the intention of pursuing a degree in the field of Journalism, Communications or Public Relations (in print, radio, television or digital media). If scholarship money is awarded, this is the only program that will receive the funds on behalf of the applicant.
- Applicants must complete and submit a Scholarship Application by Friday, May 10, 2024.
Timeline
- Applications must be received by The Jerome Foundation, P.O. Box 249, Batavia, NY 14020, postmarked by Wednesday, May 8, 2023.
- The selected applicant will be notified by June 1, 2024, and arrangements will be made to present the scholarship certificate at his or her high school awards ceremony. Again, the actual funds will be awarded upon acceptance into an accredited college, university, or trade school program.
Scholarship Applicants Must Provide:
- Completed application form.
- Official high school transcript in a sealed envelope from the institution.
- One academic reference from a guidance counselor or teacher.
- A letter of recommendation from an employer or other community member.
- Proof of acceptance at an academic, vocational or technical school for post-secondary studies.
Judging Will Be Based On The Following:
- Academic Merit (course grades, including SAT or ACT scores)
- Creative Accomplishment (a work or series of works depicting the student’s communications’ skills)
- Community Service (involvement in extracurricular school and civic activities)
- Leadership (demonstration of being a role model through teaching and training)
- Interview by The Jerome Foundation William F. Brown, Jr. Scholarship Committee
Application
Past Winners
- Parker Dowell / LeRoy High School (2023)
- Brady Fix / LeRoy High School (2022)
- Sophia Beckman / Batavia High School (2021)
- Ethan Chadbourne / Notre Dame High School (2020)
- Griffin DellaPenna / Batavia High School (2019)
- Lauren Leone / Batavia High School (2018)
- Cora Ivison / Byron-Bergen High School (2017)
- Connor Logsdon / Notre Dame High School (2016)
- Emily Chavez / LeRoy High School (2015)
