Fox News Channel has partnered with the National Merit Scholarship Program to establish the Dr. Charles Krauthammer Memorial Scholarship, Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott announced earlier today.
“Charles was a beloved member of the Fox News family, but more importantly, he was an incredible mentor and role model for millions of Americans across the country,” Scott said in a statement. “We are proud to honor Charles, his legacy, impact and countless contributions with a new scholarship program enabling the next generation of thought leaders the opportunity and education they need to reach their dreams.”
The scholarship, in honor of the longtime Fox News political contributor and Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post columnist, will be awarded to children of FNC and FBN employees beginning in 2020.
Krauthammer was as a contributor to FNC from 2002 up until his death in June following a battle with intestinal cancer. Throughout his tenure with the network, Krauthammer made frequent appearances on Special Report with Bret Baier and Fox News Sunday, but had been off the network for nearly a year after battling an abdominal tumor and subsequent health complications after it was removed last August.
He was an American Pulitzer Prize-winning syndicated journalist and physician as well as a contributing editor to The Weekly Standard. Additionally, Krauthammer joined The Washington Post in 1984, where he continued to write a weekly syndicated column until his passing.
Krauthammer served as a speech writer to Vice President Walter Mondale in 1980 and as chief resident in psychiatry at the Massachusetts General Hospital.
Established by Fox News for the eligible children of network employees, the Dr. Charles Krauthammer Memorial Scholarship will award winners $2,000 per college year for a maximum of four years. All aspects of the program, including the selection of winners and the administration of their awards, will be conducted through the National Merit Scholarship Program by the independent, not-for-profit National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). Applications will be accepted by NMSC through March 31, 2019 and winners will be announced in the spring of 2020.
To be eligible, U.S. high school juniors planning to enter college in the fall of 2020 must take the 2018 PSAT/NMSQT test and meet several academic and other requirements set by the NMSC. Winners will be chosen on a competitive basis without regard to family financial circumstances, gender, race, ethnic origin or religious preference. Each year, NMSC will disburse the scholarship directly to the accredited U.S. college/university following a determination the student has remained in good standing. Furthermore, the scholarship belongs to the student and will not be affected should their parent leave the company following the communication of the award.