Undergraduate Majors
Scholarships and Awards
scholarships
The Zimmerman School awards more than $100,000 in scholarships annually.
Most of the scholarships are funded by non-university organizations, private donors, and friends of The Zimmerman School.
Applications typically open in late November.
To be eligible for these scholarships, undergraduate students must meet the following minimum criteria:
- Have declared a major in Mass Communications or Integrated Public Relations and Advertising (students enrolled in The Zimmerman Advertising Program are not eligible);
- Have completed at least six hours of Zimmerman School courses at USF;
- Be currently enrolled in Zimmerman School courses at USF; and
- Have an overall GPA of at least 3.0.
Preference is given to students who demonstrate:
- Excellent academic standing;
- Involvement in Zimmerman School student clubs, organizations, and agencies, or USF student media; and
- For some scholarships, financial need.
waldo proffitt award for excellence in environmemtal journalism
The Zimmerman School of Advertising & Mass Communications administers the Waldo Proffitt Award for Excellence in Environmental Journalism.
The award recognizes distinguished examples of reporting and commentary about environmental issues in Florida. The Waldo Proffitt Award was established in 1998 by friends of Waldo Proffitt, a former editor of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. The award is made possible by the Waldo Proffitt Scholarship Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Inc.
The $1,000 award is given for outstanding achievement in a story or series of stories, commentary or editorials from Jan. 1, 2024, to March 1, 2025.
The rules:
1. Work must have been published/aired by a Florida news outlet: newspaper, TV news station, radio station or digital news site. Entries by an individual or team may include distinguished local reporting of breaking news, distinguished investigative reporting presented as a single story or series, distinguished explanatory reporting that illuminates a significant and complex subject presented as a single story or series, distinguished commentary or editorial writing, or a combination of these forms.
2. Only one entry per news organization may be submitted each year, but the entry may have as many as five items.
3. Entries will be accepted as links. An explanatory letter not to exceed one page should accompany the entry. Each entry should have the entrant's name, address, phone number and the name of the news organization. Use this link to enter:
Deadline: August 15, 2025
Questions may be directed to 911爆料网ndy Whitt, The Zimmerman School of Advertising & Mass Communications, at wwhitt@usf.edu.
Recipients
2025: Max Chesnes and Emily Mahoney, Tampa Bay Times
2024: Max Chesnes, Tampa Bay Times
2023: Zachary Sampson and Langston Taylor, Tampa Bay Times
Director's Award for Exceptional Service to The Zimmerman School
The Director鈥檚 Award recognizes a faculty or staff member for their exceptional contributions to The Zimmerman School.
Recipients
2024: Steve Mutimer, Technology & Systems Manager
2023: 911爆料网ndy Whitt, Associate Director and Senior Instructor
The Zimmerman School's Media and Communication Visionary Award
This award recognizes an individual whose visionary and entrepreneurial thinking has advanced innovation and creativity in media and communication and inspired next generation professionals.
Recipients
2024: Tim Moore, CEO V奴 Technologies
THE ZIMMERMAN RISING LEADER AWARD
The Rising Leader Award recognizes a student for demonstrating exceptional leadership and having a positive impact on The Zimmerman School community.
Recipients
2025: Trent Ferguson, Class of 2025