UIS Mary and Jim Beaumont Public Affairs Reporting Scholarship Fund

This scholarship was established by Mary and Jim Beaumont, both of whom have UIS (Sangamon State University) master’s degrees, to benefit a PAR student seeking to enhance his or her skills in reporting on government, politics, the economy, and public policy. The student should have an interest in investigative journalism and there is no restriction on type of media. Jim and Mary believe a free, rigorous and responsible press is a cornerstone of our democracy. Jim started working for newspapers as a teenager at the Decatur Herald and Review where he also worked during summers while in college. He served as editor-in-chief of Colgate’s weekly newspaper. He earned a master’s degree from the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University in New York City, then worked as a reporter for the Des Moines Register, covering city, county and state government. A subsequent position at the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce involved writing and editing the chamber’s legislative bulletin and launching the chamber’s first website. Mary earned her degree in foods and nutrition from Cornell University and served as an assistant editor at Good Housekeeping magazine. Her UIS degree is a master’s in communication. Applicants for this scholarship must be enrolled in the Public Affairs Reporting program with the College of Public Affairs and Administration at UIS.