Awards and Scholarships
2025 SIPA Convention Awards
Scroggins Award: Best of South
SIPA presents its highest award, the Scroggins Award: Best of South, each year to each publication type – broadcast, literary magazine, news, online and yearbook. To be eligible, a program must be a SIPA member, fill out the entry form and submit the publications by December 15.
Visual Contest
Publications can submit three entries per category in these visual categories – ranging from broadcast and online to newspaper, newsmagazine, literary magazine and yearbook design to photography and art. Entries due Feb. 1. For questions, [email protected]
Visual contest submission instructions and category descriptions
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Dr. Kay Phillips Administrator of the Year Award
SIPA has recognized administrators who are supportive of scholastic journalism since 1988. The winner of the award will be invited to give brief remarks at the banquet on the evening of March 8, 2025. Application deadline December 15.
Dr. Kay Phillips Administrator of the Year Award
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College Scholarships
SIPA offers four scholarships for students who plan to attend college. The application deadline is Feb. 1, 2025. Winners must be SIPA media staff members and must attend the convention.
Col. C.E. Savedge Yearbook Scholarship
The USC School of Journalism and Mass Communications has established a scholarship for a yearbook staff member who plans to attend the USC School of Journalism and Mass Communications. The scholarship was first awarded at the 1992 convention. The winner must attend the convention.
Elizabeth B. Dickey SIPA Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded by USC’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications to an outstanding SIPA student at the annual convention. Recipients must attend the USC School of Journalism and Mass Communications and plan a career in journalism. The winner must attend the convention.
- Grady Locklear Scholarship
The student recipient of the J. Grady Locklear Scholarship must be on a literary magazine staff and must attend the USC School of Journalism and Mass Communications. The winner must attend the convention.
Mary Y. Inglis Regional Scholarship
The SIPA Endowment Committee awards a $500 scholarship to an outstanding SIPA student who will attend a school of journalism and mass communications at an accredited college or university in the SIPA region. The winner must attend the convention.
Other awards
Please see the criteria on each application. Applications should be submitted to Nina Brook, [email protected], (803) 576-6322. Deadlines: December 15.
Elizabeth B. Dickey Distinguished Service Award
This award recognizes advisers, teachers and friends of scholastic journalism who have contributed extraordinary amounts of time, talent and energy to SIPA.
Joseph W. Shoquist Freedom of the Press Award
SIPA’s Freedom of the Press Award was initiated in 1989 in recognition of an adviser’s use of her First Amendment rights on the high school level. The award, named in honor of a former dean of the School of Journalism, will be given periodically when someone makes a strong stand for scholastic journalism.
Karen H. Flowers Outstanding Service Award
SIPA’s Outstanding Service Award was given for the first time in 2010 as the New Friend of Scholastic Media Award. This award, renamed in honor of former director Karen Flowers, goes to an individual who is not in the classroom but who has significantly supported scholastic journalism.
Leslie Dennis Heart for Diversity Award
This award, named in honor of former director Leslie Dennis, is presented to an individual or organization that has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to promoting diversity, inclusivity and multicultural awareness through scholastic media.