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Mary Evans

In memory · 2025

Mary Evans

Mary Evans — our talented colleague, friend, and a co-founder of the Journalism Lab — passed away suddenly in June 2025. Mary's reporting talents are known to all in the Miami Valley, with much of her important work highlighting the challenges facing Returned Citizens — including the Re Entry Stories radio series she produced for WYSO.

At the Journalism Lab, she worked tirelessly to share her skills with young people, regularly appearing in schools and colleges around Dayton and beyond. She also served as a site coordinator for Wilmington College's prison education program.

In her honor, the Journalism Lab has established the Mary Evans Scholarship Fund, supporting journalism on the issues she devoted her career to. Learn more below.

In Mary's honor

The Mary Evans Scholarship Fund

$2,000

A 2026 stipend awarded to a journalist working on a story about Returning Citizens. The application period has now closed — look for another in 2027.

Mary Evans was a talented radio journalist and storyteller in Dayton, Ohio. Before passing away in June 2025, she produced powerful and thought-provoking journalism such as ReEntry Stories for WYSO, a regional NPR affiliate, and was a co-founder of the Journalism Lab.

In honor of Mary's life and work, the Journalism Lab is proud to announce the 2026 Mary Evans Scholarship Fund, a $2,000 stipend awarded to a journalist working on a story on the topic of Returning Citizens.

Requirements

  • This award is open to full- and part-time journalists working in and for publications and media based inside the United States.
  • Applicants must produce a letter (PDF of an email is acceptable) from the commissioning editor of a media organization stating their commitment to publishing the proposed story. Applicants must share an email address and phone number for said commissioning editor in their application.
  • The story may be produced in written, audio or video form. A combination of written, audio and video is permitted.
  • The story must be focused on the topic of Returned Citizens and be relevant to the geographic area of the United States. For suggestions, please see Mary's ReEntry Stories series.
  • The story must be the work of the author and the author alone.
  • The use of artificial intelligence to assist with writing or in any other ways will result in the application being voided. All applications will be screened for AI input.
  • Stories for publication solely on blogging platforms such as Substack, Spotify, YouTube or other similar self-publishing platforms will not be considered.
  • The Journalism Lab does not offer assistance with immigration or other visa requirements. If you are not permitted to work in the United States, you will not be eligible for this award.

How to apply

Applications for the 2026 award closed on August 1, 2026. Journalism Lab staff and board members are reviewing all entries, and the awardee will be notified by email. Only the award winner will be contacted.

We plan to open another application period in 2027. Check back here or get in touch and we'll let you know when it's announced.

Get notified about 2027