Scholarship Gifts
The School of Communication at Western Michigan University is fortunate to have gifted, motivated and inspired students. With your help, our students are able to fund opportunities they might not be able to afford otherwise, such as traveling to present research or to study in the field, exploring internships in the local community and achieving high-caliber marks in school.
If you're interested in funding student scholarships, please explore the many opportunities we're fortunate to be able to offer and choose a scholarship. Thank you for your interest in providing support for our students.
Anne E. Linsdau Presidential Scholar Fund
Each department annually selects a high-achieving senior student to receive a Presidential Scholar award, a University-wide award sponsored by the Faculty Senate and Office of the President. The Anne E. Linsdau Presidential Scholar Fund, established by alumnus and School of Communication external advisory board member Anna Linsdau, provides a monetary award for every School of Communication Presidential Scholar.
Because the school is the largest department at the University and we have so many outstanding students, we are often able to name multiple recipients.
Support a presidential scholar
Gerard W.J. and Madeline Tremblay Endowed Scholarship
Established by Christopher Tremblay, associate provost for enrollment management at Western, and an alumnus who received both his bachelor’s and master’s degree from the School, this scholarship is named for Tremblay's parents and honors their support of his endeavors throughout his educational career.
The purpose of this scholarship is to support undergraduate majors in the School of Communication. The scholarship reflects Tremblay’s commitment to undergraduate education at WMU.
Jules Rossman Scholarship
Dr. Jules Rossman joined Western's faculty in 1966, when the school was named The Department of Speech. During his long career at the school, Rossman taught 17 different graduate and undergraduate communication courses, including seven that he introduced himself.
He also served as a faculty advisor to WIDR for 13 years and was instrumental in founding the WIDR Alumni Association. At his retirement celebration, the WIDR alumni group announced this endowed scholarship in his honor. Today, this fund supports at least one scholarship annually that is awarded to an undergraduate or graduate student who has had a minimum of two semesters work experience at WIDR.
Paul and Julie Yelsma Scholarship
Dr. Paul Yelsma served as a faculty member in the school for nearly 32 years. During his career, Dr. Yelsma taught well over 9,000 students, and facilitated those students in more than 600 student groups solving problems both off and on campus.
To coincide with his retirement, Yelsma and his spouse, Julie, established an endowed undergraduate scholarship. To be awarded annually, this scholarship recognizes one student who demonstrates academic promise in the area of small group, family or interpersonal communication.
Support education in communication
Peter and Laurel Northouse Endowed Leadership Scholarship
In 2010, Dr. Peter Northouse, and his spouse, Dr. Laurel Northouse, provided a generous gift to initiate the Peter and Laurel Northouse Endowed Leadership Scholarship Fund. Sage Publications matched this gift in acknowledgement of Peter Northouse’s nationally and internationally recognized books on the study and practice of leadership.
The purpose of this fund is to support several annual scholarships for undergraduate students who exhibit good citizenship in the classroom through their participation, community mindedness in class and general contributions to the well-being and learning environment in the classroom.
The Northouses and Sage Publications have continued to support this scholarship fund since its establishment. If you would like to help grow this endowed fund, please make a contribution:
Support leadership and engagement
Roslyn Abrams Endowed Scholarship in Communication
A 1999 graduate of Western, Roslyn “Roz” Abrams has a very successful radio broadcasting career on the East Coast. Grateful for her educational experiences at Western, Roz gave back to the School by founding a scholarship that assists undergraduate students majoring in communication who have overcome obstacles or who are first-generation college students. To date, this is the only application scholarship in the School and the only scholarship that considers financial need as a selection criterion.