INDIANAPOLIS---The Freedom Forum, in conjunction with the NCAA, has awarded eight $3,000 scholarships for undergraduate students studying sports journalism at NCAA member institutions.

The one-year scholarships are awarded to students who are entering their senior year of study during the 2006-07 academic year, and who are majoring in journalism, sports journalism, or who have campus sports journalism experience. The program is designed to foster freedoms of speech and press, while also promoting quality sports journalism education at NCAA colleges and universities. Since 1992, the Freedom Forum has awarded over 100 $3,000 scholarships, totaling more than $300,000.

The 2006-07 Freedom Forum/NCAA Sports Journalism Scholarship recipients are: Richard J. Balazs, Case Western Reserve University; Jason J. Brummond, University of Iowa; Raymond G. Garcia, Northwestern University; Michael D. Gluskin, University of Maryland; Matthew A. Kaplan, Oberlin College; Samuel R. Miller, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; Joshua J. Moyer, Pennsylvania State University; and Natalie C. Venegas, California State University, Long Beach.

"The scholarships provide students with an opportunity to learn the strategies of sports writing and to practice the trade while in school," said Charles L. Overby, chairman and chief executive officer of the Freedom Forum. "The NCAA continues to focus on academics as it works with students who will provide accounts of issues and events in collegiate sports and beyond." Overby is also a member of the NCAA Leadership Advisory Board.

The Freedom Forum, with offices in Arlington, Virginia and at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, is a nonpartisan, nonprofit foundation dedicated to free press, free speech and free spirit for all people. The foundation focuses on three priorities: the Newseum, the interactive museum of news in Arlington, Virginia; First Amendment issues; and diversity in journalism.

Applications for the scholarships are judged by a selection committee chosen by the Freedom Forum and the NCAA. In addition to completing the application form, students must supply a college transcript, three samples of sports journalism work and a letter of recommendation. The deadline for applications is December of each year.

The scholarship selection committee members are: Gene Poliinski, executive director, First Amendment Center; David Pickle, managing director, NCAA National Office; Susanne Shaw, professor, University of Kansas; and Irvin A. Cross, special assistant to the president, Macalester College.