SCPA Foundation Internships & Scholarship
Apply for a 2024 Summer Internship
The Foundation’s internship program provides a meaningful, hands-on training experience for students interested in news reporting, copy editing, photojournalism, advertising or visual communications. Our internship program prepares students for careers at S.C. newspapers after they graduate.
Two or more interns are placed each summer at daily and weekly SCPA member newspapers, allowing students an invaluable real-world training experience.
If selected as an intern, you will be matched with an SCPA member newspaper that can provide the best learning environment for your area of interest. The Foundation will either help you secure housing for your internship or place you at a newspaper near an area where you already have access to housing.
This is a paid internship. Each internship is eight weeks long and pays $4,480. You do not have to sign up for school credit to have this internship. However, if you want, the internship would qualify for class credit at most schools.
Internships are open to student journalists who attend a four-year college in South Carolina or reside in South Carolina and attend a four-year college elsewhere. Rising juniors and seniors, and recent college graduates are eligible to apply.
Application Deadline: Dec. 8, 2023
Intern selection notification: February 2024
Internship period: Summer 2024
Apply for a 2024 Mundy Scholarship
The Foundation also awards a scholarship each year to a S.C. college student interested in pursuing a newspaper career. The premier scholarship, worth $1,000 per academic year, is named for the Foundation’s first president, the late Frank R. Mundy of the Greenwood Index-Journal.
Scholarships are open to student journalists who attend a four-year college in South Carolina or who reside in South Carolina and attend a four-year college elsewhere. Rising juniors and seniors are eligible to apply.
Application Deadline: Dec. 8, 2023
Scholarship selection notification: February 2024
Scholarship payments: $500 for Fall 2024 and $500 for Spring 2025 semester
If you have questions about the scholarship or internship program, contact Jen Madden or call (803) 750-9561.
Meet the 2023 SCPA Foundation Interns
Sydney Dunlap
University of South Carolina
Intern at The State
Read the recap of Sydney’s summer.
Sydney Dunlap of the University of South Carolina will spend her summer at The State.
She is a sophomore journalism major from Greenville.
She serves as the editor-in-chief of USC’s student newspaper, The Daily Gamecock, and as a communications intern for the South Carolina Honors College.
Dunlap first became interested in journalism after working for her high school yearbook. She enjoys reporting on community events and has won awards for her photography and multimedia reporting.
Dunlap is a triplet and, in her free time, enjoys discussing the latest movies or TV shows with her sisters.
“I love how journalism allows me to connect with and make a difference in the community,” Dunlap said. “I can’t wait for all the new opportunities I’ll have at The State and know that I’ll end the summer with so many helpful skills as I continue my career in journalism.”
David Ferrara
Clemson University
Intern at The Post and Courier Greenville
Read the recap of David’s summer.
David Ferrara is an economics and philosophy major at Clemson University. Originally from Shelton, Connecticut, Ferrara came to South Carolina with a clear goal of pursuing a career in law after his time at Clemson.
He will complete his summer internship at The Post and Courier Greenville.
During his sophomore year, Ferrara started writing for his campus newspaper, The Tiger, covering the University’s response to COVID-19 and other local topics. By March, his peers had elected him as editor-in-chief, and he began to grow the newspaper and its staff. Recently, he started an internship at The Journal in Seneca, South Carolina.
Having submitted numerous Freedom of Information Act requests as a student, Ferrara advocates for transparency among public institutions and is interested in media law.
“I’m excited to learn more about investigative journalism,” Ferrara said. “My upcoming internship with The Post and Courier in Greenville will be an invaluable experience for me to improve my research and writing skills for my career.”
Ferrara also volunteers at a local elementary school through a Clemson program to tutor students and make college more accessible. In his free time, he enjoys playing the guitar and spending time outdoors.
Meet the 2023 Foundation Scholars
MUNDY SCHOLAR
Madison Sharrock
Coastal Carolina University
Madison Sharrock is named the first Mundy Scholar recognized from Coastal Carolina University. Sharrock is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in communication with a specialized focus in interactive journalism, also minoring in media and digital culture.
As a sophomore and first-generation college student, she has been named on the President’s List each semester to-date. Sharrock was recognized as the Department of Communication, Media, and Culture’s Outstanding Freshman for the 2021-2022 academic year, as well as the Outstanding Sophomore for 2022-2023.
As this year’s Mundy Scholar, she will receive $1,000 to put toward her education. The Mundy Scholarship is given in memory of R. Frank Mundy, the late publisher of the Index-Journal in Greenwood and the first president of the SCPA Foundation.
Sharrock joined her college newspaper, The Chanticleer, late in her freshman year and became the Assistant Editor at the beginning of her sophomore year in 2022. She covers investigative news stories happening on CCU’s campus, and lately has began to report on sports as well. Her involvement as Assistant Editor gave her the opportunity to be an Associated Press Stringer for the 2022 election precincts in South Carolina.
Sharrock is originally from Shelby, Ohio, and attends CCU on the President’s Scholar Award. She enjoys playing tennis and video games, as well as spending time with he friends and family when she can.
“It’s such an accomplishment and honor to represent Coastal this way,” Sharrock said. “The hardest work goes unnoticed. So when it’s rewarded, it’s a great feeling.”
Mari Pressley
Winthrop University
She has a diverse background in writing, interning on Credit Karma’s Editorial Team last summer. She is also the managing editor of her college newspaper, The Johnsonian.
At The Johnsonian, she has previously worked as a staff writer, assistant arts and culture editor, news editor, arts, culture and tech editor, copy editor and social media editor. And, she has been recognized by The Herald in cooperation with Winthrop’s Mass Communication Department and the South Carolina Press Association for her work.
She has been named one of The Charlotte Observer’s interns this summer.
In her free time, Pressley enjoys photography, as well as being a social media and editorial lead for maibeauty, a brand that sells beauty products for women of color.
“I know the skills I have acquired throughout my time as a student journalist at Winthrop have prepared me well,” Pressley said. “During my time at the Charlotte Observer, I hope to continue developing valuable news writing capabilities and acquiring more hands-on experience.”
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