The Dr. Betty Jo Welch Communication Studies Alumni Scholarship

Providing leadership and guidance to those around her is the legacy of the late Dr. Betty Jo Welch, communication studies professor and first coordinator of the Division of Speech Communication (then a part of the Department of Creative Arts).  As UNCW’s first full-time faculty member in the discipline, Dr. Welch worked at fostering the division development into the present day Department of Communication Studies.  

Dr. Welch, a native of Nashville, TN, began her UNCW career in 1970.  She was very involved in the university system, serving on and chairing numerous faculty committees.  In 1986, Dr. Welch was the first woman elected chair of the UNC Faculty Assembly and presented greetings from the faculties of the 16 constituent campuses at the inauguration of C.D. Spangler, Jr. as system president.  Welch was also active in the Wilmington community working with such organizations as the New Hanover County Heart Association, New Hanover Council of PTA, the Wilmington Civic Ballet and St. James Church.  She was also a member of the American Business Communication Association, National Association of Parliamentarians, Women in Communications, as well as many other professional associations. 

Established November 1996, the Communication Studies Alumni Chapter set, as its first goal, the founding of the Dr. Betty Jo Welch Scholarship Endowment to assist communication studies majors.  Recipients must meet the following criteria: 

           1.  A junior or senior communication studies major.              
           2.  Overall scholastic achievement; minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2.
           3.  Demonstrated financial need.
           4.  Commitment to leadership - service to the campus community. 

The scholarship, in the annual amount of $1,000, supports tuition and other related educational expenses. 

RECIPIENTS

                                       2000-2001    James Anthony Mendillo
                                       2001-2002    Jerri Raquel Morehead                                    
                                       2002-2003    Jerri Raquel Morehead
                                       2003-2004    Tiffany Marsh Lindemann and Kathleen Ann Myers
                                       2004-2005    Kiara Danielle Jones
                                       2005-2006    Laura Smith and Katherine Wilson    
                                       2006-2007    Joshua Gay and Amelia Martin
                                       2007-2008    Alfred Oliver Inman IV

The Justin Thompson Communication Studies Scholarship
for Enacting Social Change

This endowed scholarship was created by Mark Griffis and Dave Robertson to award students who excel in the area of communication studies.  The recipient must have been accepted into the Department of Communication Studies.  Applicants submit a 500-word essay on "How Media Will Influence Social Change in Twenty-Five Years."  The scholarship may be awarded to an undergraduate or graduate student and may be applied for multiple times.  The recipient is chosen on the basis of the winning essay along with the following stipulations:

1.  The recipient must be employed during the year of the award and must confirm employment with a
     pay stub or signed letter from a business owner or supervisor.

2.  The recipient must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 with a minimum 3.0 GPA in the major. 

                                                                RECIPIENTS 

                                                      2006-2007  Carrie McNeice
                                                      2007-2008  Amanda H. Iosco

Brian Pearson King Scholarship

This scholarship was established in 2004 to in memory of Brian Pearson King, a rising freshmen with interest in Communication Studies.  It is open to all PCOM students (must be PCOM at time of application) with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.  To be considered for this scholarship, applicants should complete a one-page (single-spaced) hard copy essay that answers the following questions.

1)      Why do you want to be a Communication Studies major?

2)      How have you demonstrated academic ability in communication studies? (You may refer to high school accomplishments here as needed)