Public Relations Student Society Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Public Relations Student Society of America

Introduction
The PRSA Foundation supports the development of future public relations professionals by providing scholarships, fellowships, grants and awards. Many opportunities are available to PRSSA chapter members as well as to undergraduate and graduate students across the United States and internationally. Below is a reorganized summary of current programs, eligibility notes, award amounts, and internship components where applicable.

Eligibility overview
- PRSSA-only opportunities: Programs restricted to active PRSSA chapter members or recent graduates.
- Open to all students: Awards and fellowships available to a wider student pool (undergraduate and/or graduate), often with preferences for BIPOC, first-generation, LGBTQ, or regionally based applicants.
- Educator/practice awards: Grants that recognize outstanding faculty or scholars in public relations.

For PRSSA students (PRSSA members and recent graduates)
- Altschul Champions for PRSSA Outstanding Internship Award: Recognizes exemplary academic performance and achievement during a public relations internship. Open to undergraduate PRSSA students; selection is based on faculty recommendations and an essay. Award: $300. Learn more.

- Betsy Plank/PRSSA Scholarships: Presented each year in honor of former PRSA President Betsy Plank to PRSSA members in their junior or senior year. Three scholarships totaling $7,500 are awarded to students chosen for their dedication to PRSSA and leadership in the profession. Learn more.

- David Imre Scholarship: For PRSSA members who are rising juniors or seniors enrolled in Maryland schools. Recipients are chosen for public relations experience, commitment to inclusive environments, and mentoring abilities. Learn more.

- National Gold Key: Honors the top public relations student-leader who demonstrates strong academic performance, ambitious professional development, and chapter leadership within PRSSA. Learn more.

- Robin M. Urbanski Memorial Scholarship: A $1,000 award recognizing a student’s mentoring contributions and dedication to public relations. Learn more.

- Ron Culp Scholarship for Mentorship: A $1,000 annual scholarship honoring outstanding academic achievement and mentorship. Eligible recipients are juniors or seniors in undergraduate programs in journalism, mass communications and/or public relations. Learn more.

- Stephen D. Pisinski Memorial Scholarship: A $2,000 annual scholarship acknowledging outstanding academic performance. Awarded to a junior or senior PRSSA member enrolled in journalism, mass communications, or public relations undergraduate programs. Learn more.

- Star Chapter Award: A recognition chapters of any size can earn by meeting defined chapter-management and professional development objectives. Chapters can earn multiple stars based on accomplishments. Learn more.

- Teahan National Chapter Awards: Recognize PRSSA chapters for achievements across 12 categories; each award has specific eligibility and requirements. Learn more.

- PRSA College of Fellows Certificate in Principles of Public Relations Grant: Grants that cover the cost of the Certificate in Principles of Public Relations study course and examination for PRSSA members and recent graduates. Learn more.

- PRSSA ICON Travel Grant: Up to 12 multicultural students may receive travel grants of up to $2,000 each to attend the 2026 PRSSA International Conference. Application required. Learn more.

For all students (open-eligibility fellowships and scholarships)
- AGEAN Public Relations Fellowship: Sponsored by AGEAN Public Relations—$2,500 scholarship plus a five-week paid remote internship for a BIPOC-identified student pursuing a public relations career. Learn more.

- Axia Public Relations Scholarship: Sponsored by Axia Public Relations—a $2,000 scholarship awarded to students who show a passion for PR and a commitment to professional ethics and excellence. Learn more.

- Chester Burger Scholarship for Excellence in Public Relations: A $1,000 award for graduate students in public relations. Selection is based on an essay describing how corporate goals align with the public interest. Learn more.

- Eva Irving Student PRSSA International Conference Grant: Supported by the PRSA San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter, this grant helps college students from San Diego and Imperial Counties who are underrepresented in communications and who are majoring in or planning careers in PR, marketing, communications, social media or related fields to attend the PRSSA International Conference. Learn more.

- EvolveMKD Fellowship: Sponsored by EvolveMKD—$5,500 scholarship plus a 12-week, full-time paid internship in New York, NY for a BIPOC-identified student, first-generation college student, or a student from an underrepresented or historically marginalized community pursuing PR. Learn more.

- Geoffrey M. Curtis Scholarship: Established in 2023—awards three rising juniors or seniors who are first-generation college students pursuing PR, journalism, or communications with $10,000 scholarships each. Learn more.

- Greenough Fellowship: Sponsored by Greenough Communications—$3,500 scholarship plus a paid eight-week internship in Boston, MA for a BIPOC-identified student majoring or minoring in PR, journalism, marketing, or communications. Learn more.

- Hannah Cranston Media Fellowship: One annual $3,000 scholarship and a paid twelve-week part-time internship in New York, NY, awarded to a student studying PR, communications, journalism, or a related field. Learn more.

- Hirsch Leatherwood Fellowship: One annual award of $2,500 plus a paid eight-week part-time internship in New York, NY, for a student studying political science, English, or the humanities. Learn more.

- The Key PR Fellowship: Awards one BIPOC-identified or first-generation college student a $10,000 scholarship, a $4,000 stipend, and a paid eight-week internship with The Key PR in San Francisco, CA. Learn more.

- Kite Hill Fellowship: One annual $1,500 scholarship plus a paid three-month internship with Kite Hill in Miami, FL or New York, NY for a student majoring or minoring in PR, journalism, marketing, or communications. Learn more.

- LaunchSquad Fellowship: Sponsored by LaunchSquad—awards one BIPOC-identified student a $15,000 scholarship, a $4,000 stipend, and a paid eight-week internship with LaunchSquad. Learn more.

- May C. Randazzo Memorial Scholarship: Established by the Buffalo Niagara Chapter of PRSA—a $2,000 scholarship honoring students who best exemplify leadership, community service, and scholastic achievement. Learn more.

- Mission North Fellowship: Sponsored by Mission North—awards one BIPOC-identified student a $32,000 scholarship, a $6,000 stipend, and a paid twelve-week internship with Mission North in New York, NY or San Francisco, CA. Targeted at students pursuing PR with emphases in tech communications, science communications, or digital marketing & design. Learn more.

- Ofield Dukes Multicultural Student Award: A $1,000 annual scholarship for a minority undergraduate who demonstrates the service and social responsibility Ofield Dukes championed. Learn more.

- PRSA Diversity Multicultural Scholarship: An essay-based competition that awards $1,500 scholarships to two minority students in recognition of academic achievement and commitment to PR practice. Learn more.

- PRSA Houston Scholarships: The PRSA Houston Scholarship Program offers multiple awards to freshmen through graduate students pursuing degrees in public relations or related fields. Applicants must be from southeast Texas or attend a southeast Texas-area college/university. Learn more.

- PRSA Memphis Scholarship: A $500 award for a full-time student pursuing a degree in public relations or a related field at an eligible college/university in Mississippi or Tennessee. Learn more.

- PRSA Puget Sound Scholarships: Two $4,000 annual scholarships—the Horace and Susie Revels Cayton Scholarship and the Sally Heet Memorial Scholarship—awarded to Washington state students pursuing careers in public relations. Learn more.

- PRSA Silicon Valley Diversity and Multicultural Scholarship: A $2,000 scholarship for a minority student from the Silicon Valley/San Francisco Bay Area who demonstrates outstanding academic achievement and commitment to PR. Learn more.

- Scout Lab Fellowship: Awards one student a $2,500 scholarship plus a three-month part-time paid remote internship with Scout Lab for those pursuing careers in PR or communications. Learn more.

- SolComms Fellowship: Awards one BIPOC-identified or LGBTQ-identified student a $5,000 scholarship and a 13-week full-time paid internship with SolComms in New York, NY for students pursuing PR or communications careers. Learn more.

- V2 Communications Fellowship: Awards one BIPOC-identified student a $2,500 scholarship plus a paid, full-time eight-week internship with V2 Communications in Boston, MA for students studying PR, journalism, marketing, communications, digital marketing & design, or tech marketing. Learn more.

Other grants and awards (educators, researchers, mentorship)
- Glen Broom Mentorship Award: Recognizes a current public relations educator who has shown excellence in teaching and mentorship and who has significantly influenced students’ careers and lives. Learn more.

- JJ&W Behavioral Science Prize: The Jackson Jackson & Wagner Behavioral Science Prize honors PR educators whose academic research has made a substantial contribution to the practice of public relations. Learn more.

If you’d like, I can format this into a downloadable PDF, create a short checklist to match students with appropriate programs, or extract only those awards that match a specific profile (e.g., BIPOC, first-gen, regional). Which would be most useful?