Contact:  Amy Schiska, Religion Newswriters Association, 614-891-9001 ext. 3

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Religion Newswriters Association invites applicants to its Lilly Scholarships in Religion program, which provides full-time journalists with up to $5,000 to cover the cost of college tuition, books, registration fees, parking and other costs.

The scholarships can be used at any accredited college, university, seminary or similar institution.  Journalists can take any course they choose as long as it is in the field of religion.

Journalists previously awarded scholarships have taken courses covering a wide variety of courses including Islamic Movements, Church History, Religion and Violence, Japanese Buddhism, Evangelism and many more.

"This scholarship turned me from curious to informed. Before my class, I saw church history as interesting but not essential to religion editing.  I've changed my mind," said Matthew Strozier, a reporter with The Stamford Advocate.

Jan. 1, 2007 is the next deadline for scholarship applications, which are reviewed quarterly by a committee of award-winning journalists. Scholarships must be used within three academic quarters of their award date and only full-time journalists working in the general circulation news media are eligible. 

All journalists -- including reporters, editors, designers, copy editors, editorial writers, news directors, researchers and producers -- are eligible, regardless of whether or not they cover religion.

Religion Newswriters Association is the world's only journalism association for people who write about religion in the mainstream news media.  The scholarships are offered through its non-profit arm, the Religion Newswriters Foundation, with generous funding from the Lilly Endowment, Inc.

Complete information about the Lilly Scholarships in Religion is available at http://www.RNA.org.  For questions, call Amy Schiska at 614-891-9001 ext. 3