The Sacramento Press Club awards journalism, communications and public relations students in the Sacramento area with five scholarships every year, totaling $17,500 &- which is among the largest scholarship poolgiven in Northern California.

Students compete for staggered scholarships: First place earns $6,000, second place earns $4,000 and the remaining $2,500 will be awarded to three winners.

Sac State students have been awarded these scholarships in the past and the Sacramento Press Clubhas mademoney available to juniors, seniors and graduate students. Ten finalists are chosen out of the pool of applicants.

The Sacramento Press Club is a nonprofit educational organization and is composed of political reporters, columnists, new media journalists, public relations experts, press secretaries, political consultants and legislative staff.

Rich Ehisen, president of the Sacramento Press Club, said the club works with people who have a passion for writing.

“We go out of our way to try to connect journalism students with the journalism community,” Ehisen said.

Students who want to apply must live in Sacramento, be enrolled in a Sacramento college or university or plan on reporting news or state political coverage.

Sac State public relations major Kimmy Selberg said the Sacramento Press Club is a great way for students to meet people and make connections that could help them further their career.

“Personally it is valuable,” Selberg said. “The members are good at mentoring students, they give first hand on experience and help with what’s important for a student’s career.”

As a student, Selberg said she believes the Sacramento Press Club has helped her to see the connection between public relations and journalism and how to work together to further careers.

Opportunities with the Sacramento Press Club include free evening seminars, trainings, mixers and also host students at the club’s luncheons. At these events, students are able to meet lawmakers and network with industry professionals.

Sebastian Moore, senior communication studies major, said he had a great experience so far with Sacramento Press Club.

“I attended one of their luncheon meetings and saw how the press club operates and runs,” Moore said. “It’s an incredible thing to be in a room of accomplished journalists.”

The Sacramento Press Club encourages students from different fields to become members. The yearly student membership rate is $20.

Cameron Partridge, senior public relations major, became a Sacramento Press Club member a few months ago.

“The most valuable part of Sacramento Press Club is being able to network and learn from people in public relations and journalism in the field is the biggest advantage for me,” Partridge said.

Partridge said he encourages journalism students to apply to the scholarships because not enough do. He and other student members of the Sacramento Press Club are organizing a campaign to bring awareness to the scholarship opportunities.

Candidates must demonstrate ability, have an interest in the journalism field and have a clear need for financial support. Students who have an interest in covering news at their schools or in the region are encouraged to apply.

“It’s free money,” Partidge said. “It’s awesome because not only do you get the free money but you are able to be recognized by the whole entire club which in itself is an achievement. There are working journalists and people on the board that have been around for a long time. If you are able to be a recipient that says, “You’re ready to make something great out of your career.'”

Todd Wilson, Sac State alumnus, journalist and scholarship winner, in 2009 earned the largest scholarship offered &- $6,000.

“The scholarship let me stay on at Sac State to be editor in chief at The State Hornet, which got me into a master’s program in Illinois,” Wilson said. “Now I’m reporting on state government at the Chicago Tribune.”

Wilson said he could depend on the journalists he met at luncheons and through covering stories related to the Sacramento Press Club.

Edie Lambert, co-chair of the scholarship committee, said the need for scholarships has never been greater with the current budget cuts.

“Journalism as a field and career is really coming under fire with newsroom and newspapers folding,” Lambert said. “The model of journalism is changing as a business with people trying to figure out how to make money and get out accurate information.”

Mallory Fites can be reached at [email protected]