Serving Western Massachusetts for 60 years
Who is Eligible
Who is Eligible
Who is Eligible
Any high school senior from the four counties in western Massachusetts, who has applied to college and is committed to pursuing journalism as their academic major or minor. Areas of journalism focus can including news, sports, investigative, photojournalism, social media, features, health, and entertainment.
How to Apply
Who is Eligible
Who is Eligible
Start by downloading the scholarship INFORMATION GUIDE here, and discuss the process with your school guidance counselor. Also, download the scholarship APPLICATION and CHECKLIST. If you have questions after reading the application, email Noreen Tassinari at ntassinari@thebige.com for clarification.
Check out Kathy Tobin talking more about the scholarships with journalist Kayla Hevey on Mass Appeal in March 2023. Watch here.
Deadlines
Change the World
Change the World
Scholarship applications are typically submitted mid- to late-January. Scholarship recipients are selected in May and the awards ceremony is held in June. Be sure your application is complete. Review the application "checklist" one more time!
Change the World
Change the World
Change the World
Deception, greed, abuse of power, and all forms of injustice, can only be challenged by exposing the truth. That is what journalists do. Journalism is a noble and rewarding profession. Change your world!
Recent Scholarship Recipients
2023
2020 - 2021
2023
From left, scholarship winners Abigail LePage, who was awarded The Republican Scholarship; Olivia Puppolo, who was awarded a Valley Press Club Scholarship; Samantha Brennan, who was awarded the 22News Scholarship; Madison Parr, who was awarded a Valley Press Club Scholarship; Jack DiNapoli, who was awarded the Al Jaffe Scholarship; and Emmalene Pirnie, who was awarded the MassLive Scholarship.
2022
2020 - 2021
2023
From left, scholarship supporter Al Jaffe, scholarship recipients Cordelia Hageman, Madeline Raymond, Angela Bongiovanni, Deb Houle of 22News and Peter Goonan, Valley Press Club president. Hageman, of Palmer, was awarded the Al Jaffe Scholarship. She graduated from Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School and attends Bridgewater State University to study marketing and communications. Raymond, of Goshen, was awarded the 22News Scholarship. She graduated from Northampton High School and attends Bryn Mayr College to study journalism, English and political science. Bongiovanni, of Westfield, was awarded the Edward J. Malley, Jr. Memorial Scholarship. She graduated from Westfield High School and attends Salem State University as a media and communications major, with journalism concentration and a minor in art for photography.
2020 - 2021
2020 - 2021
2020 - 2021
Due to COVID-19, the scholarship group photos for these years could not be taken.
2020 recipients: Al Jaffe Scholarship—Peyton Doyle; 22News Scholarship-Aarti Lamberg, The Republican Scholarship—Gabrielle Daley; Rhonda Swan Memorial Scholarships—Sinclair Samuels and Kande Charles; Valley Press Club Scholarships— Owen Tucker-Smith and Rebecca Osowski
2021 recipients: Al Jaffe Scholarship—Dylan Brett Holubowich, Granby High School; 22News Scholarship—Lauren Cincotta, West Springfield High School; Ed Malley Jr. Memorial Scholarship—Sophia-Zoe Schreyer, Amherst Regional High
s
2019
2019
2020 - 2021
From left: Brian Dillon - Valley Press Club Scholarship, Wesley Days, Jr. - Rhonda Swan Memorial Scholarship, Emilia Tamayo - Valley Press Club Scholarship, Olivia “Lulu” Kesin - Al Jaffe Scholarship, Joseph Klaus - 22News Scholarship, Alyssa Blair -The Republican Scholarship
2018
2019
2018
From left: Hailey MacDonald -22News Scholarship, Rory Tettemer - Albert Jaffe Scholarship, Martin Keane -Valley Press Club Scholarship, Skylar Case - Rhonda Swan Memorial Scholarship, Levi Civjan - Ed Malley Scholarship, Audrey Gamble - The Republican Scholarshi.
2017
2019
2018
From left: Xuan Truong -Valley Press Club Scholarship, Melissa Nieve-Torres -22News Scholarship, Hayley Procon - Albert Jaffe Scholarship, Al Jaffe, Elizabeth Turley - Valley Press Club Scholarship, Janey Beardsley - The Republican Scholarship.
2015
VPC Board Members
VPC Board Members
Zoe Vital-WWLP 22News Scholarship, Cassandra Cloutier and Matthew Stump - Valley Press Club Scholarships.
Not pictured, Lauren Padilla - Republican Newspaper Scholarship and Nathaniel Stump - Al Jaffe Scholarship
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2013 Recipients
Sara Wailgum - MGM Scholarship
Joanne Paquin
The Republican Scholarship
James Villalobos - 22News Scholarship
Gertrude Joseph - Al Jaffe Scholarship
VPC Board Members
VPC Board Members
VPC Board Members
Valley Press Club Board Members at Scholarship Awards Luncheon,
Peter Goonan, Noreen Tassinari,
Charlie Bennett and Mike Dobbs.
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2012 Recipients
Heather Brouillard received a scholarship donated by retired Holyoke Police Chief Anthony Scott
Emily Cimino received a scholarship
donated by Diane DiPiero-Saia
Joshua Wolfsun, 22 News Scholarship
“If your aim is to change the world, journalism is a more immediate short-term weapon.”
— Tom Stoppard
2016
VPC Board Members
2016
L-R: Melanie Kos - The Republican Scholarship, Leighanne Sullivan - 22News Scholarship, Cienna Hiersche - Valley Press Club Scholarship, Calvin Filson - Albert Jaffe Scholarship
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2014 Recipients
Gina Orlandi - Valley Press Club Scholarship
Danielle Lapierre- Al Jaffe Scholarship
Alexi Cohan - 22News Scholarship
Ashley Bieg - The Republican Scholarship
The Valley Press Club has awarded annual scholarships to local students since 1964.