Ed Farmer Scholarships | Opportunities | Sport, Media, and Culture Minor | University of Notre Dame
  1. Home ›
  2. Opportunities ›
  3. Ed Farmer Scholarships

Ed Farmer Scholarships

Ed Farmer In The Announcer Booth At A White Sox Game
Ed Farmer (left) in the Chicago White Sox broadcast booth. This image was originally posted to Flickr by Official U.S. Navy Imagery. It was reviewed on 16 September 2012 by FlickreviewR and was confirmed to be licensed under the terms of the cc-by-2.0.

The Ed Farmer Sports Media Endowment for Excellence funds annual scholarships in honor of baseball pitcher and broadcaster Ed Farmer. Over his 11-year career in the major leagues, Farmer pitched 370 games for eight different teams including his hometown White Sox. In 1991, he returned to the White Sox, where he worked as radio broadcaster for nearly 30 years until his death in April 2020.

Scholarships from the endowment support students in specific academic programs as they pursue sport media-related internships or research projects.

Award Details & Eligibility

Who can apply:

  • Students currently enrolled in the Sport, Media & Culture Minor (SMAC)
  • Students currently enrolled in the Gallivan Program in Journalism, Ethics & Democracy (JED)

Award amount: up to $2,000 (per student)

One or more awards granted annually, based on:

  • Strength of application
  • Demonstrated financial need
  • Scope & impact of proposed work
  • Available funding

Applications are reviewed by the SMAC Director and Internship Coordinator, in consultation with the Gallivan Program Director.

Funding Pathways

Jake Irons In White Sox Broadcast Booth May 23 1
2023 scholarship recipient Jake Irons '25 in the Chicago White Sox broadcast booth

1. Unpaid Internships

Funding may be used to offset living expenses for unpaid sports media or journalism internships. Students submitting under this pathway must have applied for or secured a sport media-related internship that includes at least 5 weeks of full-time work.

For this pathway, your statement of purpose should address:

  • Internship roles and responsibilities
  • Connection with SMAC or JED
  • Relevance for your long-term professional or intellectual goals
  • Unmet funding need

2. Research or Capstone Projects

Funding may be used to support sport media-related capstone projects, independent research, or journalism projects. Examples of eligible expenses include travel, accommodation, materials, etc.

For this pathway, your statement of purpose should address:

  • Project’s topic, scope, and methods

  • Planned outcomes, or how work will be shared

  • Specific work that will be completed during the funding period

  • Unmet funding need

Timeline

For summer 2026 internship opportunities (priority deadline):

  • Application deadline: April 10, 2026

  • Applicants will be notified by April 17, 2026

For projects or off-cycle internships (reviewed on a rolling basis):

  • Submit at least 4 weeks before funding is needed.
  • Decisions are communicated within 2-3 weeks of submission.

How to Apply

Apply now

Required materials:

  • 500 word statement of purpose
  • Budget showing itemized expenses and other funding sources (with amounts)
  • Internship documentation (if applicable)

Questions

Contact the SMAC Director, Dr. Katherine Walden [kwalden@nd.edu]

ed farmer poster (horizontal) by Katherine Walden

Past Recipients

Ellie Oif '26, Ed Farmer Scholar and Intern for Play Like a Champion Today, with Professor Coleman at the 2024 PLACT conference
2024 scholarship recipient Ellie Oif '26 at the Play Like a Champion Today Conference
Year Student Placement
2025 Valeria Bautista Misakova '26 H.J. Lutcher Stark Center for Physical Culture and Sports, University of Texas Austin
Audrey Flanagan '26 Sports Sponsorships and Events Consulting (SSEC)
Ryan Murphy '26 Charlie Holt Hockey Archive
2024 Ellie Oif '26 Play Like a Champion Today
2023 Jacob Irons '25 Hyannis Harbor Hawks