Aces Scholarships
Scholarship Sponsored by American Copy Editors Society
Overview
Six scholarships are awarded each year through the ACES Education Fund, supported by donor contributions. Five ACES scholarships recognize students who excel at critical thinking about written materials in any field and who aspire to careers involving editing; one of those is the Aubespin scholar. Separately, the Bill Walsh Scholarship honors a distinguished editor and supports a student focused on editing news. Application materials for the annual awards become available in August.
Description: The program includes five general ACES scholarships and one named Bill Walsh Scholarship, awarded annually to promising students interested in editing.
Award Value: Four ACES scholarship winners receive $1,500 each; the Aubespin scholar receives $2,500; the Bill Walsh Scholarship awards $3,500. All five ACES scholarship winners are also eligible for financial aid to attend the ACES national in-person conference, and the Bill Walsh winner receives conference aid as well.
Application Timeline: Application materials open in August each year; specific deadlines are published with that announcement.
History of the Award: The Bill Walsh Scholarship is named in honor of the late editor and author Bill Walsh, recognizing his contributions to editing and journalism.
- Six scholarships awarded annually via the ACES Education Fund.
- Four ACES awards at $1,500, one Aubespin award at $2,500, and the Bill Walsh award at $3,500.
- Conference financial aid is available for scholarship winners.
- Application materials are released each August.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must have completed at least one year of higher education and be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at the application deadline. Candidates must demonstrate an interest in editing as a career. Scholarships are awarded without regard to nationality, residence, or field of academic concentration. Certain individuals are ineligible: previous scholarship winners, members of the ACES Board of Directors, ACES administrators, and their families.
Eligibility: Open to students with at least one year of higher education who are enrolled in a degree program at the deadline and who show a clear interest in editing.
- Must have completed at least one year of higher education.
- Must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at the deadline.
- Selection is independent of nationality, residence, or academic major.
- Previous winners and ACES leadership, staff, or their families are ineligible.
Requirements
The Bill Walsh Scholarship is specifically for applicants who aspire to edit news and who demonstrate the talent and passion for language and journalism exemplified by Bill Walsh. Applicants for the other five scholarships should show commitment to editing written materials and evidence of effectiveness in doing so. Selection emphasizes critical thinking, a passion for words, and an ability to make writing clear, accurate, and engaging. A student may apply simultaneously for the Walsh award and one of the other five scholarships, but a single student may receive only one award.
Selection criteria: Excellence in editing or clear potential for editorial work, strong critical thinking about written materials, and demonstrated passion for clarity and accuracy in writing.
Application rules: Candidates may apply for both the Walsh and one of the other ACES scholarships but may be awarded only one scholarship.
- Walsh Scholarship targets aspiring news editors with demonstrated talent and passion for journalism.
- Other ACES scholarships reward effectiveness and commitment to editing written materials across fields.
- Selection focuses on critical thinking, clarity, accuracy, and engagement in writing.
- Applicants may seek multiple scholarships but may win only one.