Twenty-eight (28) journalism schools are currently involved in the Jim Murray Memorial Foundation's (JMMF) annual essay competition. How did that happen?

In the beginning, back in the winter of 1998, the newly created JMMF contacted the top 14 journalism schools in the United States from a U.S. World & News Report online listing; namely, Arizona State University, Indiana University-Bloomington, Northwestern University, Ohio University-Athens, Syracuse University, University of Florida-Gainesville, University of Iowa, University of Kansas, University of Maryland-College Park, University of Minnesota at Twin Cities, University of Missouri University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Texas-Austin and University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The JMMF increased the university base by adding the schools attended by its Board members, i.e., University of Southern California, UCLA, California State University-Northridge, and Ball State University.

Jim Murray's alma mater, Trinity College-Hartford, automatically receives a JMMF annual scholarship. English department faculty members at Trinity College judge their own essay submissions to determine a Trinity winner.

At the onset of the JMMF, St. Bonaventure University alumni Bob Curran, Jr. ('75) and William J. Smyth ('43) requested the addition of Bona's Russell J. Jandoli School of Journalism and Mass Communication to our scholarship program. St. Bonaventure became one of the original 15 schools to compete for the JMMF scholarships.

In 2002, Wake Forest University was added to the JMMF family as a thank you and tribute to Wake's most prominent alum, Arnold Palmer. Mr. Palmer has graciously served as the honorary chairman of the Jim Murray Memorial Golf Classic since its 1999 inception.

Loyola University-New Orleans was added in 2003, thanks to alum Mac McBride, Assistant PR Director at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.

After leaving the faculty of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University-Athens, Professor Michael Bugeja, now Director of the Greenlee School of Journalism at Iowa State University, contacted the JMMF in 2004, subsequently joining our elite list of journalism schools.

Retired Indianapolis Star sportswriter John Bansch, petitioned for his alma mater, the University of Montana, which was added in 2005.

In the spring of 2007, the University of Hawaii was added at the request of JMMF 2006 essay judge and Honolulu Star-Bulletin sportswriter Cindy Luis. At the same time, Penn State University was added, thanks to two PSU leaders: Malcolm Moran, Knight Chair in Sports Journalism and Society College of Communications at PSU, and Assistant Journalism Professor Marie Hardin, who is also Director of the Center for Editing Excellence and Associate Director of the Center for Sports Journalism at Penn State.

As you can see, involving your J-school is easy. There are a few prerequisites, however. It's up to you to take the first step. Make the commitment to get involved with the Jim Murray Memorial Foundation and its journalism scholarship program. Ask a J-school faculty member at your alma mater to be in touch with the JMMF for additional information at info@jimmurrayfoundation.org. Letters of Request are reviewed annually by the JMMF Board of Directors.

In the spring of 2007, the University of Hawaii was added at the request of JMMF 2006 essay judge and Honolulu Star-Bulletin sportswriter Cindy Luis. At the same time, Penn State University was added, thanks to two PSU leaders: Malcolm Moran, Knight Chair in Sports Journalism and Society College of Communications at PSU, and Assistant Journalism Professor Marie Hardin, who is also Director, Center for Editing Excellence and Associate Director, Center for Sports Journalism.

As you can see, involving your J-school is easy. There are a few prerequisites, however. You must take the first step. Make the

commitment to get involved with the Jim Murray Memorial Foundation and its journalism scholarship program. Ask a J-school faculty member at your alma mater to be in touch with the JMMF for additional information. Letters of Request are reviewed semi-annually by the JMMF Board of Directors.