Jan. 8, 2015

Kansas college students in wildlife-based or outdoor journalism curriculums eligible

PRATT – Kansas high school seniors enrolled in a Kansas college and current Kansas college students pursuing wildlife/nature-based or outdoor journalism degrees are eligible to apply for the Steve Harper Memorial Scholarship. The $1,000 grant is available in memory of Harper who was a well-known Kansan with a colorful career in photojournalism.

Harper was a photojournalism instructor at Wichita State University before becoming the photo editor at the Wichita Eagle Newspaper. His final post was as the Eagle’s outdoor writer and photographer. Harper’s series of articles on Kansas day trips led to the publication of his popular book,83,000 Square Miles, No Line, No Waiting. His outdoor page was selected as best in the nation several times.

Harper died of cancer in 2000 at the age of 55 in the Newton home where he had grown up and raised three daughters. At the suggestion of Governor Bill Graves, the memorial scholarship was first established by the Outdoor Writers of Kansas (OWK), of which Harper was a member. Harper was an excellent judge of character and put as much stock in a person’s initiative and accomplishments as academic successes. A scholarship selection committee will give equal consideration to all three qualifications.

The $1,000 scholarship ($500 per semester) is funded by OWK and the Kansas Wildscape Foundation and will be awarded without regard to race, color, religion or sex. The chosen recipient will be required to show proof of full-time enrollment (at least 12 credit hours) in a Kansas college.

A letter of recommendation from a teacher, counselor, coach or employer must accompany the completed application. Applicants studying outdoor journalism should also include examples of their work. Applications can be downloaded from the Kansas Wildscape website, www.kansaswildscape.org and must be received on or before April 15, 2015. Mail applications to Kansas Wildscape Foundation, Attn: Steve Harper Scholarship, 2500 W. 6th St., Suite G, Lawrence, KS 66049.

For more information on the Steve Harper Memorial Scholarship, contact Wildscape’s Debbie Brandt, dbrandt@sunflower.come, (785) 843-9453 or Wichita Eagle outdoors writer Michael Pearce, mpearce@wichitaeagle.com.

For more information about OWK, go to www.outdoorwritersofkansas.com.

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