The Connecticut Sports Writers’ Alliance is inviting high school journalists to apply for the Bohdan Kolinsky Memorial Journalism Scholarship.

The scholarship honors the memory of Bohdan “Bo” Kolinsky, who was scholastic sports editor of the Hartford Courant when he died at 49 in 2003. The scholarship provides an initial grant of $1,000 to a high school or prep school senior accepted by an accredited four-year college for studies leading to a career as a sports writer or editor. The grant may be renewed at higher amounts in succeeding years if the student meets specified standards of academic and professional progress.

The 2006 winner was Matthew Ehalt of Shelton High School, now at Syracuse University.

Application forms have been sent to guidance offices at 209 Connecticut schools and are also available on line at www.ctsportswriters.org.

A student seeking the scholarship must submit a completed application form; a one-page essay stating why he or she wants to pursue a career in sports writing; a summary of his or her career, showing good academic standing, involvement in journalism, other extracurricular activities and awards received (grade transcripts and copies of SAT or ACT scores may be submitted as evidence of academic standing); a one-page letter of recommendation from a teacher, a faculty adviser or a print journalist who supervises the student’s work; and three samples of the applicant’s writing published since September 1, 2005 (these may have been published in a daily or weekly newspaper, a magazine or a school publication … at least two samples must be relevant to sports).

Applicants are encouraged to submit samples of varying types of writing, such as event coverage, feature stories and opinion columns. Clippings or legible photocopies may be submitted. No submissions will be returned.

Applications and supporting materials must be mailed to the Connecticut Sports Writers’ Alliance, Box 70, Unionville, CT 06085, no later than January 15, 2007.

Students will be evaluated on the basis of their promise as journalists and evidence of ability to succeed academically. The winner will be honored at the Alliance’s 66th annual Gold Key dinner April 22, 2007, at the Aqua Turf in Southington.

Questions may be addressed to Robert E. Barton, scholarship committee chairman, at RbrtBarton@aol.com or (860) 677-0087.