The Division of University Communications has launched a new scholarship to support UB students pursuing an education and career in communications, journalism, digital media or related fields.

The annual $2,000 scholarship was established through gifts from University Communications’ staff to the 2018-19 UB Faculty Staff Campaign, a part of Boldly Buffalo, the largest campaign in UB and SUNY history.

The Faculty Staff Campaign’s goal: to raise $1 million from 1,700 donors for gifts to amplify the university’s mission of transforming ambitious students into thought leaders who leave a lasting impact on Western New York and the world.

The Division of University Communications Student Scholarship will award its first student in the fall semester and is open to students majoring or minoring in communication, English, media study, journalism fine arts, marketing or theatre. It will provide financial support for educational expenses, such as tuition, books and fees.

“The University Communications scholarship is all about helping students pursue the excellent educational opportunities at UB, which provide them with the knowledge and skills needed for successful careers in a wide range of communication fields and industries,” says John DellaContrada, interim vice president for communications.

“Our team is passionate about helping students learn and succeed.”

In fundraising for the scholarship, University Communications exceeded its goal by nearly 43 percent and is committed to giving a minimum of $10,000 to the scholarship fund over the next five years. The scholarship may serve as a model for gift designations by faculty and staff within other UB units.

“This scholarship is a wonderful example of staff working together to create a meaningful opportunity for students, and signifies everything that the Faculty Staff Campaign is about,” says Geoffrey Bartlett, assistant vice president for annual giving in the Division of University Advancement.

University Communications is a team of about 35 professionals focused on advancing UB’s reputation by telling compelling stories about the university’s people and programs with creativity, passion and authenticity. The division leads communication efforts for the university, and provides expertise in marketing and brand management; news media relations; writing, design and multimedia production; internal communications; crisis and issues management; social media; and trademarks and licensing.