JoAnne Harrop, PWPA president, stands with Faith Cotter, the 2011 scholarship winner.

Each year the Pennsylvania Women’s Press Association offers a $1,500 scholarship to a print journalism student.

The winner for 2011 is Faith Cotter, a senior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Point Park University. Her journalism experience includes freelance writing for Pittsburgh-area Patch news websites, reporting for her college newspaper and work with Point Park’s Innocence Institute.

PWPA chooses its scholarship winner on the basis of proven journalistic ability, dedication to a newspaper career and general merit. Men and women are eligible.

To apply for the 2012 scholarship you must:

- Be a resident of Pennsylvania.

- Study print journalism in a baccalaureate or graduate-level program at a Pennsylvania college or university.

- Be classified as a junior, senior or graduate student in the fall of 2012.

Applications for the scholarship must include:

- A 500-word essay summarizing your interest in journalism, your career plans and any other information about why you should receive this scholarship.

- Clippings of published work from school newspapers or other publications. Please include the name of the publications in which these clips appeared. Photocopies are acceptable.

- A copy of your current college transcript.

- A list of any siblings, including their ages and educational status.

- An optional statement of financial need.

Applications lacking any of the above information will be considered incomplete and will be rejected. Please send your application to:

PWPA Scholarship Committee
c/o Teresa Spatara
P.O. Box 152
Sharpsville, PA 16150

The deadline for sending applications is April 14, 2012.