Lee Thornton Scholarship
Lee Thornton Scholarship supports college students pursuing radio, television, or digital journalism careers through educational funding and professional development to help them enter the profession.
Funder: Radio Television Digital News Association
Due Dates: September 9, 2026 (Applications open) | October 22, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Eastern (Application deadline) | December 2026 (Notification) | March 2027 (First Amendment Awards)
Funding Amounts: $2,000, plus travel and lodging for the Washington, D.C., recipient event
Summary: Supports college students pursuing careers in radio, television, or digital journalism through educational funding and professional development.
Key Information: Apply for only one RTDNA scholarship or fellowship opportunity; multiple applications result in disqualification.
Description
The Lee Thornton Scholarship is administered by the RTDNA Foundation, the educational arm of the Radio Television Digital News Association. It supports college students pursuing careers in radio, television, or digital journalism, with preference given to students from the University of Maryland and Howard University. The scholarship combines financial support for education with opportunities for professional development and connections with journalism leaders.
Endowed through Thornton’s estate, the scholarship honors the first African-American woman to cover the White House for a major news network, CBS, and the first African-American host of NPR’s All Things Considered. Thornton also taught at Howard University and the University of Maryland, where she served as interim dean of the Philip Merrill College of Journalism.
