Awards and Scholarships

Awarded to two graduating seniors who have achieved one of the highest GPAs in the Department (3.0 minimum), and who have contributed significantly to the life of the Department through participation in Department events, efforts to create community among undergraduate students in or out of the classroom, active engagement in co-curricular or student programs (e.g., Communication Association, Forensics, Performance Ensemble, PRSSA, etc.), service to the Department (e.g., Aronstam Library monitor), and/or lively and sustained participation in classes.

Richard B. Aronstam was a faculty member in the Department. He wrote movie screenplays and songs (the latter of which still generate ASCAP revenue), and worked as a writer for Red Skelton, Eddie Cantor, and other popular performers during radio’s Golden Age. Richard was an avid reader. His wife, Elsie, founded the Aronstam Library by donating his private collection of books.

Award Amount:
The Department of Communication Studies is able to offer two scholarships annually of $1000 each.

Criteria:

• Awarded to two graduating seniors who have achieved one of the highest GPAs (3.0 minimum)
• Contributed significantly to the life of the Department
• Contribution to the department could include: participation in Department events, efforts to create community among undergraduate students in or out of the classroom, active engagement in co-curricular or student programs (e.g., Communication Association, Forensics, Performance Ensemble, etc.), service to the Department (e.g., Aronstam library monitor), and/or other lively and sustained participation in classes
• Must be a Communication Studies Major

Apply for the Richard Aronstam Outstanding Senior Award

CSUN Forensics is devoted to providing argumentation and advocacy training to traditionally underserved student populations. The Matador Speech & Debate Club is a full-service organization which focuses on competitive policy debate, public forum debate, and individual events. The scholarship is sponsored by Richard B. Aronstam.

Richard B. Aronstam was a faculty member in the Department. He wrote movie screenplays and songs (the latter of which still generate ASCAP revenue), and worked as a writer for Red Skelton, Eddie Cantor, and other popular performers during radio’s Golden Age. Richard was an avid reader. His wife, Elsie, founded the Aronstam Library by donating his private collection of books.

Award Amount:

Two awarded each year - one in spring and one in fall

Criteria:

• A high scholastic record or potential
• Has contributed to the department’s Forensics programs
• Contribution to the program could include: coaching, administrative work, participation and/or success at tournaments, providing service to the university, college, department, or forensics communities, efforts to create community on the forensics team and/or with surrounding communities, active engagement in forensics related service projects, or other lively and sustained participation with the forensics program
• Must be a Communication Studies Major or M.A. student

Apply for the Richard B. Aronstam Forensics Scholarship

The Aronstam Performance Ensemble Award recognizes outstanding contribution to the Performance Ensemble by a Communication Studies student.

Richard B. Aronstam was a faculty member in the Department. He wrote movie screenplays and songs (the latter of which still generate ASCAP revenue), and worked as a writer for Red Skelton, Eddie Cantor, and other popular performers during radio’s Golden Age. Richard was an avid reader. His wife, Elsie, founded the Aronstam Library by donating his private collection of books.

Award Amount:
The Department of Communication Studies is able to offer two scholarships annually of $1000.  One in the spring and one in the fall.

Criteria:

• A high scholastic record or potential, 
• Has contributed to the department’s Performance Ensemble program
• Contribution to the ensemble could include: directing, administrative work, teaching, mentoring, participation at performance festivals, providing service to the university, college, department, or other communities, efforts to create community on the performance ensemble, active engagement in performance related service projects, or other lively and sustained participation with the ensemble, 
• Must be a Communication Studies Major or M.A. student

Apply for the Richard Aronstam Performance Ensemble Award

Elizabeth Berry is an emeritus faculty member in the Communication Studies department. Dr. Berry served the university faithfully for 34 years, serving as COMS department chair, as well as cofounding of the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies, serving as Faculty Rights Chair for the CFA for 12 years, and co-developed and taught a course with Professor Mary McEdwards called The Rhetoric of Women’s Liberation, the first of two courses focused on women offered by CSUN.

Award Amount:
The Department of Communication Studies is able to offer one scholarship annually of $300

Criteria:

• Outstanding teaching and service to students by a Teaching Associate in the Department of Communication Studies
• Must have at least a 3.0 GPA 
• Must be a Communication Studies M.A. student

Apply for the Elizabeth Berry Outstanding TA Award

Bradly Bessey is an Emmy Award-winning television producer who, after thirty-five years in the entertainment industry, obtained his M.A. in Communication Studies in 2022. Within the department, he wrote extensively about LGBTQ+ equality. He was twice selected to present work at the National Communications Association Annual Convention, once in 2020 and again in 2022. He offers this award in honor of the CSUN Communication Studies professors who inspired him to raise his voice for change.

Award Amount:
$1,000 awarded to one graduate student.

Criteria:

• Minimum 3.0 GPA •
• Student should demonstrate ways their academic work within the Department of Communication Studies strives to make a difference through social justice activism to promote a more equitable world. This can be shown in coursework (written and/or oral presentations), performances, conference presentations, and/or journal submissions. 
• Preference is given to those who have presented work at conferences, but this is not a requirement. •
• Must be a Communication Studies MA student the year they apply for the award

Apply for the Bradly Bessey Fulcrum of Change Award Scholarship

Presented to a non-COMS major who demonstrates excellence in Forensics. 

Don Cameron is Emeritus Professor of rhetorical studies in the COMS Dept. In addition to heading the Debate Program, he served as Dept. Chair, Associate Dean of Students, Vice Provost, and President of WSCA.

Award Amount:
The Department of Communication Studies is able to offer one scholarship annually of $300.

Criteria:

• Awarded to one non-Communication Studies undergraduate student
• Substantial academic achievement (Minimum 3.0 GPA) -
• Demonstrated excellence in Forensics. This could be through participation and/or success at tournaments, providing service to the university, college, department, or forensics communities, efforts to create community on the forensics team and/or with surrounding communities, active engagement in forensics related service projects, or other lively and sustained participation with the CSUN forensics program.

Apply for the Donald Cameron Award

Award Amount:
The Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication is able to offer one scholarship annually of $500 for a continuing freshman

Criteria:

• Awarded to a continuing freshman (must complete a minimum of 30 units by the end of Spring semester the academic year the award is distributed)
• Outstanding service to the Department, University and or community
• Must have completed a financial aid application
• Must be a Communication Studies Major

Apply for the Dean's Recognition Scholarship (Continuing Freshman)

Award Amount:
The Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication is able to offer one scholarship annually of $500 for a continuing junior

Criteria:

• Awarded to a continuing junior (must complete a minimum of 90 units by the end of Spring semester the academic year the award is distributed))
• Outstanding service to the Department, University and or community
• Must have completed a financial aid application 
• Must be a Communication Studies Major

Apply for the Dean's Recognition Scholarship (Continuing Junior)

Award Amount:
The Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication is able to offer one scholarship annually of $500 for a continuing graduate student

Criteria:

• Awarded to a continuing graduate student (must be a classified graduate student who is not graduating in Spring or Summer semester the academic year the award is distributed) 
• Outstanding service to the Department, University and or community 
• Must have completed a financial aid application 
• Must be a Communication Studies M.A. student

Apply for the Dean's Recognition Scholarship (Continuing Graduate Student)

Jeff Felix is an alum of the COMS department, earning his B.A. before moving on to a successful career in banking.

Award Amount:
The Department of Communication Studies is able to offer one scholarship annually of $1000.

Criteria:

• Awarded to an academically outstanding continuing student in Communication Studies (30-105 units at the end of Spring semester the academic year the scholarship is awarded) 
• With financial need 
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 
• Must have completed a financial aid application 
• Must be a Communication Studies Major

Apply for the Jeff Felix Family Scholarship

Awarded to a re-entry student (undergraduate or graduate) who has demonstrated significant academic achievement as a COMS major. A re-entry student is one who took time off after high school or after beginning their degree and then returned to school later to earn their degree

Mary G. McEdwards was the first female faculty member hired in the Dept. She returned to school when her youngest child entered first grade, completing her BA in 1959 and her MA in 1960 at CSUN. She was hired as Assistant Professor in 1963 and retired in 1988 as Full Professor. Prof. McEdwards served as campus Faculty Senate President (becoming the first woman to hold the position), and co-developed and taught a course with Professor Elizabeth Berry called The Rhetoric of Women’s Liberation. She is remembered as a committed mentor and advocate for women, especially returning students.

Award Amount:
The Department of Communication Studies is able to offer one scholarship annually of $250

Criteria:

• Awarded to an undergraduate or graduate re-entry student
• Demonstrated significant academic achievement
• Must be a Communication Studies Major or M.A. student

Apply for the Mary G. McEdwards Re-Entry Student Award

Awarded to an outstanding undergraduate or graduate Communicator in the Department. 

Fred McMahon was a rhetorical scholar and founding member of the COMS Department. He served as Dept. Chair and Director of the Forensics team for many years, helping lead debaters to a victory that would secure the first trophy for the campus community. He also edited a small quarterly journal in the 1970s dedicated to rhetorical criticism called Exetasis.

Award Amount:
The Department of Communication Studies is able to offer one scholarship annually of $250

Criteria:

• Awarded to an undergraduate or graduate student
• Demonstrates outstanding communication abilities through coursework (written or oral presentations), class participation, conference presentations, and/or other public lectures/presentations
• Must be a Communication Studies Major or M.A. student

Apply for the Fred McMahon Outstanding Communicator Award

Awarded to an outstanding graduate student in Communication Studies who contributes to the life of the Department.

Charles Mudd was a founding member of the COMS Department and rhetorical studies scholar.

Award Amount:
The Department of Communication Studies is able to offer one scholarship annually of $250

Criteria:

• Awarded to an exceptional graduate student who contributes to the life of the Department 
• Contributions to the department can include: mentoring fellow graduate students, active engagement in seminar, and/or service to the Department.
• Must be a Communication Studies M.A. student

Apply for the Charles Mudd Award

Amy Rebman was a graduate student and Teaching Associate in the COMS Dept. at the time of her death in 2006.

Award Amount:
The Department of Communication Studies is able to offer one scholarship annually of $100 

Criteria: 

• Provided to a student who demonstrates excellence in working with the Communication for Youth Institute.
• Must be a Communication Studies Major

Apply for the Amy Rebman CYI Outstanding Service Award

Mrs. Press is an educator and published author of featured stories and children’s literature and has founded and directed the award winning RAYS (Reading Awakens Young Scientists) program at the Discovery Center for Science and Technology in the Conejo Valley.

Mr. Press currently serves as the President of Watt Communities, and his career in the homebuilding industry has spanned over 30 years. Mr. and Mrs. Press met while students at the University, while earning degrees in Business Administration and Speech Communication respectively.

Award Amount:
The Mike Curb College is able to offer two scholarships annually of $2500. The Communication Studies department will select one applicant to forward to the College for consideration:

Criteria:

• Awarded to a continuing undergraduate student
• Minimum 2.75 GPA 
• Student needs to (a) have sought career advisement and (b) write a 300 word application essay. The application essay should demonstrate how the applicant possesses innovative, “out of the box” approaches to move toward career goals, has taken concrete, creative steps to achieve their career goals, and how this scholarship will support them in their process of professionalization. 
• Award recipient is expected to maintain contact with the college and the donor to continue their process of professionalization. 
• Must have completed a financial aid application 
• Must be a Communication Studies Major to be considered as the COMS nominee

Apply for the Ellen and Howard Press Family Scholarship

Kent Joel Snyder earned his M.A. in Communication Studies in 1969 and went to work in the insurance industry. In 1976, he established the Snyder Awards, the first scholarship established in the Communications Studies department, which have benefitted CSUN students in the department for more than 45 years. Kent’s contributions serve as a model of giving back to the community.

Award Amount:
The Department of Communication Studies is able to offer two scholarships awarded to one graduate student and undergraduate student in the fall, and one graduate and undergraduate student in the spring.

Criteria:

• Student must be in good standing at CSUN
• a declared Communication Studies M.A. student
• a senior or graduate student in Fall or Spring of current academic year,
• GPA of 3.0 or better in either overall GPA or Communication Studies GPA

Apply for the Kent Joel Snyder Award

Award Amount:
The Department of Communication Studies is able to offer two scholarships annually of $100 each.

Criteria:

• Awarded to two students (undergraduate or graduate) that embody the values of the Department and are who are dedicated to achieving a degree and maintaining enthusiasm for the major despite hardships (that could include financial, physical, and/or personal hardship).
• Must be a Communication Studies Major or M.A. student

Apply for the Spirit of Communication Award

Awarded to a student for providing significant volunteer service to the Communication Studies department. Such service could include: Aronstam Library monitors, setting up, taking down, or staffing department events, and/or members or officers of the Communication Association, Performance Ensemble, or Forensics.

Len Wurthman is Emeritus Professor of Communication Studies at CSUN. He played minor league baseball before joining the faculty, where he served as an advisor to CSUN student athletes before the more formal system of advisement was established. Len oversaw a course called the ‘Speaker’s Bureau’, a service-learning course in public speaking that found students going into the community to give presentations.

Award Amount:
The Department of Communication Studies is able to offer one scholarship annually of $250.

Criteria:

• Awarded to a graduate or undergraduate student for providing significant volunteer service to the Communication Studies department. 
• Such service could include: Aronstam Library monitors, setting up, taking down, or staffing department events, and/or members or officers of the Communication Association, Performance Ensemble, or Forensics.

Apply for the Len Wurthman Departmental Service Award