William & Mary annually recognizes student journalism with one scholarship and one award. They are centered on excellence in the craft of journalism and participation in publication activities at William & Mary. University Communications is now accepting submissions for the Rex Smith Scholarship and the W. Wilford Kale, Jr. Journalism Award. Complete descriptions are below; a monetary prize is associated with each.

Deadline for entries is 6 p.m. on March 21. Applicants may apply for one or both awards and must be full-time students enrolled for the spring 2025 semester. If applying for both, one application will suffice but please make the dual application clear in a cover letter. Entrants should also include their 93 number with their application (if you’d prefer to provide this via phone, please contact Claudette Brooks, university communications, 757.221.2622.)

Entries should be submitted via email to Claudette Brooks at cbrooks@wm.edu and will be reviewed by a selection committee comprised of at least three full-time communicators across campus. Applications must include three examples of your journalism-related work as well as a summary of both your media involvement while at the university and what you have gained from that experience.

Samples must come from student publications at W&M that are part of the Media Council. Work done for an office or department at the university as part of an internship is not eligible.

Winners will be notified during the university-wide Evening of Excellence student awards reception in April.

The Rex Smith Scholarship

This scholarship was established in 1960 by friends of Rex Smith, an alumnus of William & Mary and longtime writer and editor for the Associated Press. The earnings from the endowment are presented annually to a student who participates in publication activities at the university.

Wilford Kale, Jr. Journalism Award

This award was established to honor a student who has shown excellence in journalistic writing at William & Mary. The university has given this award since 1979 following its endowment by W. Wilford Kale, Jr., an alumnus of William & Mary, who for many years was a reporter with the Richmond-Times Dispatch and the head of the local Williamsburg Bureau.