CINCINNATI – The Scripps Howard Foundation, in partnership with College Media Advisers Inc., is accepting nominations for the first national competition to identify five outstanding college newspaper staff members.The winners of the “Most Valuable Staffer” competition each will receive a $5,000 scholarship and an all-expenses paid trip to New York for the College Media Adviser’s Spring National College Media convention in March 2000. Matching $5,000 grants also will be awarded to the students’ newspapers.Scholarships and matching grant winners will be announced in February. The Foundation and College Media Advisers will be accepting nominations through Dec. 1.“The Scripps Howard Foundation strives to find creative and innovative ways to encourage students who are considering careers in newspapers,” said Judith G. Clabes, president and CEO of the foundation. “This competition is an excellent means to accomplish that end. We’re looking forward to meeting the first five winners.”Ron Spielberger, executive director of College Media Advisers, said, “This is a great opportunity for college newspaper staffers to be recognized for their outstanding work. College Media Advisers looks forward to a continuing partnership in this awards program.”Any college newspaper in the U.S. that publishes at least weekly during the regular school year may nominate one staff member. The letter of nomination must be written by the newspaper advisor, student publications director, a department chair or dean, or other appropriate nominator and should explain how the student has been “most valuable” to the newspaper. The staff member must be enrolled as a full-time student in the college or university, but is not required to be a journalism or communications major, and may work in any department of the newspaper.The nomination package should include a resume; three clips (photocopies accepted) of published work from the college newspaper (story, photographs, ads, editing samples, etc.); a letter from the applicant explaining his/her philosophy of what a newspaper should be and how his/her contributions have helped the newspaper; a 500-word essay discussing a current industry issue of the student’s choice; a transcript of college course work; and a copy of the newspaper itself.The competition will be judged by a panel of academic and newspaper professionals. The decision of the judges will be final. Mail complete nomination packet to:Jack WillisMost Valuable Staffer CompetitionThe University of Oklahoma860 Van Vleet OvalNorman, Okla. 73019 College Media Advisers, with more than 700 members coast to coast, represents the people who advise the nation’s collegiate newspapers, yearbooks, magazine and electronic media. Dedicated to excellence in journalism, the Scripps Howard Foundation is a leader in industry efforts in journalism education, scholarships, internships, literacy, minority recruitment/development and First Amendment causes.