Student scholarships
JEA and NSPA will provide up to 50 need-based registration scholarships for students. Scholarship recipients will receive free registration to the convention.
The scholarship deadline is Sept. 23.
> Scholarship application form
Priority will be given to students from underrepresented groups and low-income students. To apply, students must complete this application form and explain in the space provided why they want to attend the convention and how the scholarship would help them. Attach a letter of recommendation from the school media adviser or other school administrator addressing the student’s interest in journalism as well as the student’s financial need.
Each scholarship will cover the recipient’s registration fee but not hotel or other expenses. Students attending the convention must be accompanied by a media adviser or other responsible adult.
Advisers: Please do not register your scholarship applicant for the convention until you’ve been notified whether your student has received a scholarship. If you’d like to, go ahead and register yourself and the rest of your group that will be attending. You can always return and and add students later.
If the scholarship applicant is approved, we will add the student to the existing publication registration and send a confirmation email to both the adviser and the student informing them they have been chosen.
Recipients will be notified by Sept. 25. This date precedes the early bird registration deadline of Sept. 26.
If the scholarship applicant is not approved and will still be attending the convention, please utilize the modify capability in your convention confirmation email to add them to your registration.
Hotel reservations
The Philadelphia Marriott, at 1201 Market Street, is the official hotel for the fall convention. Booking with this hotel helps JEA and NSPA maintain affordable convention rates for all attendees.
The hotel block opens Sept. 10. No hotel reservations may be made before this date.
If you register for the convention before Sept. 10, you will receive the hotel booking link on Sept. 10. If you register for the convention after Sept. 10, the hotel booking link will be included in your confirmation email.
The last day to reserve a room in the convention block is Oct. 15, unless the block fills sooner.
You may book up to five rooms in one session. If you need to book more rooms, use the link again and/or contact the Marriott to ensure your rooms are booked together.
The hotel does not guarantee parties with multiple rooms will be on the same floor, but they will do their best to place rooms in groups.
The booking process is the same for group and individual reservations.
In the event the Marriott block fills, convention officials will work to secure a new block in one or more hotels.