Since its founding in 1974, Associated Press Sports Editors has grown into a force by helping its members improve through training, support and programming.
APSE awards scholarships to talented students pursuing careers in sports journalism and grants to professionals seeking to attend our summer conference. Collegiate sports journalists entering their sophomore, junior or senior years, as well as graduate students, are eligible for the scholarships, which are awarded based on the students’ journalistic work, their academic record, financial need, and geography.
These scholarships and grants honor some of our organization’s stalwart members and provide opportunities for student journalists and members at our smallest outlets.
Jack Berninger Scholarship
Jack retired as sports editor of the Richmond Times-Dispatch in 2006 after nearly 37 years in the industry. He was part of APSE for 31 years, including 11 years as its executive director following his retirement.
Roy Hewitt Scholarship
Roy was the longtime sports editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer and APSE’s Olympics committee chair for 12-plus years. Along with 20-plus years in Cleveland, Hewitt served as a sports editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer and St. Paul Pioneer Press. He died in 2020.
Garry D. Howard Scholarship
The longtime sports editor in Milwaukee, Garry was the first African American to be APSE president, holding the position in 2009-10. The scholarship in his honor is awarded annually to an HBCU student.
Joe Sullivan Scholarship
Joe worked in sports journalism for 48 years before retiring in 2018. He was at the Boston Globe for 24 years, the last 14 as sports editor. A loyal member of APSE, he oversaw the scholarship program’s launch in 2008.
Tim Wheatley Scholarship
Tim’s 26-year career included sports positions at the Indianapolis Star, Minneapolis Star Tribune and Florida Times-Union and a year as an APSE national officer. He died in a car accident in 2009 at age 48.
Donn Walden Leadership Grant
A devoted member of APSE, Donn was the sports editor of the Lewiston Tribune and Moscow-Pullman Daily News in Idaho when he died in 2023 of complications of a stroke at age 50. A $1,000 grant is given in his memory annually to a journalist from a D Division member organization to attend the summer conference.
If you are interested in supporting APSE’s scholarship program, fill out the form below to send a message to Executive Director Bill Eichenberger.