Scholarships
College & High School
The Foundation of the Upper Midwest Emmy® Chapter can help students pay for some of their post-secondary school tuition
We offer $1,500 student scholarships to be used for tuition & books.
Scholarships are open to high school seniors and college/university sophomores & juniors or graduate students living or attending school in the five-state area served by the Upper Midwest Chapter region of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
Requirements
- Be accepted into an accredited post-secondary school.
- Submit completed online scholarship grant application form.
- Each scholarship requires the student to write a mandatory essay. Essays will be judged based on ability to focus on the topic, answer the question and stay within the 450 word limit. We will also pay attention to spelling and grammar.
- College scholarships require an additional Video Link (YouTube, Vimeo, etc) of your best work. Time Limit: 15 minutes.
- Submit a copy of most recent high school/college transcript.
- Letter or letters of recommendation from relevant faculty or advisors. Letters of recommendation can be accepted via email info@midwestemmys.org, providing it comes directly from the faculty or advisor’s school account. Hard copy letters should be signed and printed on letterhead paper.
Completed application, essay, transcript, video link (if necessary) and letters of recommendation must be completed by February 6th, 2026.
You may also email materials to info@midwestemmys.org.
Scholarship recipients will be announced in March, 2026.
Payments to schools will be made in August, 2026.
Donations
The Foundation of Upper Midwest Chapter of NATAS is committed to helping the next generation of media professionals.
We offer scholarships to high school and college/university media students. We can’t do it without your help!
The Foundation of Upper Midwest Chapter of NATAS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Tax ID 20-1848994.
Each year the Upper Midwest Emmy® Foundation awards scholarships to media students majoring in video media production or video journalism within our chapter region.
Since 2002, The Foundation of Upper Midwest Chapter of NATAS has awarded 111 scholarships worth $239,500 to regional students who want to study media production or journalism in college.
Donate via web browser
Donate via phone
Text midwestemmys to phone number 56651
Follow prompts to donate to Emmy® scholarships and classroom grants
Application Deadline
February 6, 2026
High School Scholarships
College
Scholarships
Alex Schaefer
St. Cloud Tech High School
2026 HIGH SCHOOL: Welch Family Foundation Scholarship
Alex Schaefer has been living and breathing media both in and out of the classroom. When Alex is not in class at St. Cloud Tech High School, you’ll probably find him at a racetrack capturing high-speed moments with a camera or flying drones for live broadcasts and post-production projects. Working in fast-paced, live event environments has sharpened his ability to think quickly, adapt on the fly, and deliver under pressure.
Alex has spent four years as part of The Tech Morning Show’s media production team, where he’s received four Upper Midwest Emmy® Foundation Student Production Awards and the AV All-Star Award. He’s directed and produced two live streams which gave him hands-on experience in leadership, coordination, and live show execution.
Beyond media, Alex has logged 50+ volunteer hours supporting VEX Robotics events. He’s assisting with setup and technical support. Alex has also served as a mentor during a four-day summer robotics camp for elementary students and helped lead activities at a winter camp for younger kids.
Sailor Schervish
Theodore Roosevelt
High School, IA
Governors High School Scholarship
Sailor Schervish divides her study time at two high schools. She’s a Senior at Theodore Roosevelt High School, but also studies at Central Campus in Des Moines, Iowa. Only fitting she plans on a double major at the University of Iowa in Communications and Cinema Studies.
Sailor has taken Film and Broadcast classes at Central Campus for two years, editing videos, shooting, writing, as well as running a full professional studio. She also competed in the 48-Hour Film Project in Des Moines in 2023, 2024 and plans to compete again this summer before going to college.
Kaylynn Ruffin
University of Northern Iowa
Bob Fransen Leadership College Scholarship
Kaylynn Ruffin is using her school experience to do media projects in the professional world. She is part of Hilltop media, a student organization on campus where business and local schools pay students to create media to promote a business or make films for the classroom targeted to keep people engaged and informed.
Kaylynn goes to local film festivals and makes campus content. Covering topics of music videos, scary and comedy short films, and informationals about campus topics. She has filmed the process of the Davenport Schools events and helped make the holiday video specials for the community.
Lizzy Nyoike
University of Minnesota
2026 COLLEGE: Ulysses Carlini Media Scholarship
Lizzy Nyoike used her summer break last year from the University of Minnesota for an incredible opportunity to join the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Student Multimedia Projects in Cleveland, Ohio — where she pitched stories, sharpened her interviewing skills, and collaborated with passionate student journalists from across the country. It was fast-paced, inspiring, and solidified her love for storytelling.
These days, you can find Lizzy interning at CCX Media, a hyperlocal cablecast news station covering nine northwest suburban cities in Minnesota. She also hosts Northwest City Politics, where Lizzy sits down with local representatives to break down the issues shaping our communities. Whether she’s behind the camera or behind the mic, Lizzy is all about amplifying local voices and making civic conversations accessible.
Outside of media, Lizzy is a Lifetime Girl Scout and currently serves as a Girl Scouts River Valleys National Delegate. Lizzy volunteers with a BIPOC girls troop, helping uplift and empower the next generation of leaders. She also served as Vice President of the Rebound Inc. Youth Advisory Board in partnership with Hennepin County, advocating for youth voices and community impact.
Storyteller. Community advocate. Leader. And always ready for the next big opportunity.
Gretchen Fuller
St. George's University of London
2026 COLLEGE: Beaurline Foundation Scholarship
Gretchen Fuller is a Twin Cities native storyteller who feels just as at home behind a camera as she does in a control room.
In Fall 2024, Gretchen served as the Video and Multimedia Intern at The Public Interest Network, where she blended visual storytelling with environmental advocacy. From mission-driven media to game-day excitement, Gretchen has built a dynamic production background — working as a camera operator for NSPN.TV, capturing high school sports across Minnesota, and operating camera for Harvard University Athletics.
Gretchen grew up in Woodbury and now attends Boston University, where she is completing her undergraduate degree, Gretchen has immersed herself in every corner of production. She’s a former member of the Athletics Video Production Crew, operating camera and stepping into technical directing roles. She’s worked on a live weekly news broadcast, Good Morning BU, contributed to over 30 class and extracurricular film projects, and serves as a photographer for the university newspaper, The Daily Free Press.
Looking ahead, Gretchen has accepted a place in the Broadcast Journalism MA program at City St George's, University of London for the 2026–27 academic year — an exciting next chapter as she continues sharpening her skills in global media and journalism.
Driven, versatile, and always ready to hit “record,” Gretchen brings passion, precision, and creativity to every production she joins.
Educator Classroom Grants
The Foundation of the Upper Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences – offers Classroom Grant Opportunities to enhance the learning experience of media students in our chapter region’s high schools and/or 501(c)(3) post-secondary educational organizations.
Classroom Grants allow educators to acquire and distribute resources related to video production, television, and/or broadcast journalism. Since 2017, the Upper Midwest Emmy® Foundation has provided 9 grants totaling nearly $17,000 to local schools for media equipment in their classrooms.
Special Thanks
Special thanks to ACOWSAY FILM COMPANY for its generous donation to fund a major portion of 2026 Classroom Grants.
2025 Classroom Grant Recipient
MVAOCOY High School
Classroom Grants allow educators to acquire and distribute resources related to video production, television, and/or broadcast journalism. Since 2017, the Upper Midwest Emmy® Foundation has provided 9 grants totaling nearly $17,000 to local schools for media equipment in their classrooms.
MVAOCOU High School is part of the Maple Valley Anthon-Oto Community School district. A small rural district about 60 miles southeast of Sioux City, Iowa. The school has 20-23 broadcasting students each semester and is looking to expand into a 2nd class.
Our $2,000 grant this year for a computer will give students more access to create videos for social media and commercials. The iPad can connect to a Production Truck during games to do real time interviews with players and coaches.
Student AV All Stars
The Foundation of the Upper Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences recognizes students who are an incredible technical asset to the overall success of a school or non-profit educational student video media program.
These are the hardest working, most engaged and active students in the school’s video program or club. The go-to students who help keep you on the air.
Educators may nominate one student from their school or organization’s media program.
Students should be behind-the-scenes production personnel.
Nomination Deadline
February 6th, 2026
Mya Fryckman
St. Cloud State University
2026 Student AV All Stars - College Recipient
Mya Fryckman is a powerhouse in live production and broadcast leadership. Mya is currently Station Manager of UTVS Television at St. Cloud State University. She guides the daily operations and long-term vision of the campus station, balancing creativity with technical precision and strong team leadership.
From directing live DI hockey broadcasts on Fox9 and CW Twin Cities to producing large-scale events like KVSC Trivia Weekend and TEDx St. Cloud, Mya thrives under pressure. She’s led everything from live studio shows to multi-day coverage, calling shots, managing crews, coordinating talent, and ensuring every broadcast meets professional standards.
A four-year broadcast student engineer, Mya brings exceptional technical expertise in signal flow, routing, live switching, encoding, and troubleshooting — often solving problems before others even see them. She understands production from every angle, from big-picture strategy to perfectly wrapped over-under cables.
Confident, collaborative, and highly skilled, Mya doesn’t just run productions — she elevates them.
Blake Petersen
Iowa State University
2025 Student AV All Stars - College Recipient
Blake Petersen, a native of Elk Horn, IA, is a stalwart performer on several fronts involving Iowa State's school media program. He spent two years as a videographer and on-air talent for the student TV news magazine show "EverGreenlee News."
His credits include working in production for Cyclones.TV, the ISU Athletic Department's regional sports and streaming network. He also has worked as an intern for two minor league baseball franchises - the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders of the Northwoods League and the Iowa Cubs, the AAA farm team of the Chicago Cubs. On the ISU campus, he's also been involved with high-leverage broadcasts for ESPN+ productions at Hilton Coliseum and Jack Trice Stadium.
And during the fall of 2024, Blake served as a videographer for a long-form documentary project chronicling the life of a fellow student sports broadcaster, her twin brother on the football team and their family's up-and-down emotional ride during Iowa State's winningest season ever. The project is due for release in 2025.
Ava LaValle
New Life Academy
2026 Student AV All Stars - High School Recipient
Ava LaValle is the creative force behind New Life Academy’s weekly news show introductions. Ava brings fresh ideas and bold energy to every episode. Whether it’s an animated sequence, a themed intro for Homecoming or Theater Week, or a clever twist on a classic TV show opening, She writes, directs, edits, and often animates it all — sometimes on very short notice.
Ava is a skilled in script writer and knowledgeable in Adobe Premiere, Adobe Fresco, directing, and sound mixing. She is a reliable leader who can take a project from concept to completion. She also produces videos for the Robotics team, showcasing her versatility as a storyteller.
Beyond her technical talent, Ava excels at collaboration — creating space for others’ ideas while confidently guiding the overall vision. Her creativity, willingness to try new techniques, and constant innovation have elevated the school’s entire news program.
Alex Schaefer
St. Cloud Tech High School
2025 Student AV All Stars - High School Recipient
Alex Schaefer is a Junior at St. Cloud Tech High School. Alex has consistently gone above and beyond his role with both the Tech Morning Show and C201 Productions, taking these projects to new heights over the past three years. His technical expertise is unparalleled—he has mastered every aspect of the school’s studio operations.
Alex's deep understanding of how the entire studio networked system functions ensures that each production runs smoothly. Alex also self-taught himself to operate a drone, enabling the school to incorporate drone footage into this year’s productions, adding a fresh and professional dimension to the school's content.
His commitment to training and mentoring others has created a culture of collaboration and growth within the studio. Whether it's guiding newer students or stepping in to resolve technical challenges, Alex has earned the trust and admiration of both his peers and instructors. His unwavering dedication, technical expertise, and leadership make him an essential member of the production team.