Roger C. Dycus Memorial Scholarship

The Roger C. Dycus Award is awarded for newsroom excellence, productivity, team approach, attitude and dependability. It was started in the 1980s with a $100 donation from a Shorthorn staff member and is named for the father of John Dycus, Shorthorn Newsroom adviser 1970-1998. In addition to being one of The Shorthorn and Student Publications’ highest honors, it is also Student Publications’ largest scholarship.

Applications will be sent to committee members to review. Depending on the number and quality of applications, committee members have the option to interview all applicants or select finalists from the submitted applications and interview only those finalists.

Committee members have the option of awarding one scholarship, two scholarships or no scholarship.

Eligibility

• The scholarship will be awarded to a current Shorthorn Newsroom staff member who holds a major editing, reporting, photography, production, graphics or design position (print or online).
• Applicants must have been on Shorthorn staff at least one long semester (fall or spring) prior to the current semester.
• Applicants must have a cumulative UTA GPA of 2.5 or higher. The committee will not consider any applicant with UTA cumulative GPA lower than 2.5 or any applicant who does not yet have a UTA GPA that reflects at least one long semester as a UTA student
prior to the current semester.
• All current Shorthorn staff members, including graduating seniors, who meet stated qualifications may apply.

A committee composed primarily of former Shorthorn staff members chooses the recipient each fall.

To apply, submit the following to MavScholarShop:
• A letter explaining your three greatest contributions to The Shorthorn (with the emphasis on your contributions this semester), your career plans and how you’re using your work on The Shorthorn to prepare for that career, and why you’re applying for this award. The letter should be at least one full page but no more than two pages, single-spaced. Address it to the Roger C. Dycus Award Committee.
• Your resume, no longer than one page.
• An unofficial transcript of your coursework at UTA.
• The Scholarship Eligibility and Financial Status form (included as an attachment with this email).
• Samples of your work published this semester in The Shorthorn. Work samples submitted with this application should be free of known errors. Work produced for other publications or other media will not be considered. All work samples should be submitted as PDFs.

Basic requirements for all scholarships and awards include the following:
• You must be in compliance with all requirements for working at The Shorthorn and in Student Publications.
• You must be in good academic standing with the university and be eligible to receive a scholarship.
• You must have held a staff position this semester that reflects the work being recognized in the scholarship or award.
• Priority consideration will be given to applicants who have been on staff the whole semester.
• You may apply for more than one scholarship or award, but no student may receive more than one Student Publications end-of-semester scholarship or award in any single semester.
• Selection committee members have the option of not awarding any scholarship or award if they conclude performance in that area has not met the level of accomplishment that these scholarships and awards are intended to recognize. Quality of work samples submitted with applications will be a major factor in deciding whether a scholarship or award will be awarded this semester.

A recipient will forfeit the full amount of any scholarship or award if:
• They fail to earn a minimum of 6 credit hours at UTA this semester unless the student completed a degree this semester and needed fewer than 6 credit hours to do so.
• They are not in good academic standing with the university after grades for this semester are posted.
• Students who have previously received a Roger C. Dycus Scholarship or Dorothy Estes Scholarship are ineligible to apply for the other in the same academic school year.