Each year, the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists offers a $1,000 scholarship to a college student, from the chapter’s membership area, who is majoring in communications or who is taking courses leading to a career in the field of communications.

The student may be matriculated in any college or university in the United States, but must be a resident of Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware or Chester counties; the State of Delaware; or Camden, Burlington, Cape May, Atlantic or Ocean counties in New Jersey.

Applicants must submit the following:

•  College transcript

•  A 300- to 500-word essay detailing why the applicant has chosen to pursue a career in communications.
•  A letter of recommendation from someone other than a relative of the applicant.

The application should be mailed to:

Gerald Etter
c/o Jewish Times of South Jersey
21 W. Delilah Rd.
Pleasantville, NJ 08232

All information must be received each year no later than May 31. The selected scholarship recipient will be notified shortly thereafter and invited to attend the chapter’s annual awards banquet held each year in the summer.

History of Award: The Irwin Schier Award for Journalistic Potential was established by his wife, Saundra, to honor the late editor and public relations executive, Irwin Schier, who died in 1983 at age 42. The award is presented each year to a student of journalism who has demonstrated exceptional interest and talent in the field and is offered to students who plan a career in journalism or communications.

Schier was considered by his peers to be an exceptional communicator, known for his humanistic writing and editing. As editor of the Delaware Valley Business Magazine, he focused on humanizing business and its people. Under his editorship, the magazine won its first award for coverage of international trade. Schier was manager of employee communication for Food Fair for which he edited and supervised the production of five employee journals. He was a graduate of Temple University and for three years before his death he was president of Schier Communications, Inc.

For additional information contact Gerald Etter at (609) 407-0909