The Scholastic Press Association of Chicago (SPAC) has established the Joan Bjorklund Memorial Scholarship Fund honoring a founding member of the association who was adviser to the newspaper at Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center.
A $1,000 scholarship in Mrs. Bjorklund’s name will be awarded annually to a young journalist from a Chicago high school, SPAC president Joyce Spight announced at a memorial service for the veteran teacher in the Graceland Cemetery Chapel.
Mrs. Bjorklund, who died of pancreatic cancer on Dec. 26 in her Ravenswood Manor home, taught English and journalism for 25 years at Von Steuben and served as advisor to Expression, the student newspaper.
In 1991 she joined newspaper advisors throughout Chicago to found SPAC to help newspaper advisors work effectively with all students, especially minorities, and encourage talented students to train for jobs in journalism.
During Mrs. Bjorklund’s 13 years as a member of SPAC, she served the organization as secretary, organizer of its annual conference at Roosevelt University, scholarship chairperson and grant writer. She also administered SPAC’s high school newspaper contest.
Joan Bjorklund, who graduated from Roosevelt University and received a Master’s degree in English literature from the University of Chicago, also served as a master teacher and tutored pupils at Bateman School after her retirement from Von Steuben.
She is survived by her husband, Richard, and their sons, Steven of Chicago and Christopher (Molli) of Minneapolis, and a granddaughter Annabel Slade.
Contributions to the Joan Bjorklund Memorial Scholarship Fund may be made to the Scholastic Press Association of Chicago, 8600 S. Winchester Ave., Chicago, IL 60620, a 501(c)3 charitable organization. |
