Steamboat Institute Fellowship
The Steamboat Institute Fellowship for Public Policy and American Exceptionalism was established to honor the memory of our dear friend, Tony Blankley, and to build on his legacy. Tony Blankley was a master journalist and communicator and acted as the Moderator for our first three Freedom Conferences (2009, 2010 and 2011). Tony was Executive Vice President at Edelman, a Washington, D.C.-based public relations firm, and served as editorial page editor at The Washington Times. His insights and good humor were indispensable.
The Steamboat Institute is proud to nurture and support the careers of outstanding young journalists and emerging conservative thought leaders who share our commitment to fact-based reporting, civil discourse, and an appreciation of America’s founding principles.
Our annual fellowship recipient receives a $15,000 stipend for the first year, a second-year stipend of $7,500, travel expenses, speaking engagements, public relations/social media support, and extensive networking opportunities.
Applications are now closed.
Check back April 2026.
Application Requirements
- Personal Essay – Why are you deserving of this fellowship? Describe your experience, your plans for the future, and your passion for and commitment to the conservative principles espoused by both Tony Blankley and The Steamboat Institute. (750 words).
- Writing sample (i.e., example of published work – limit 1,500 words).
- Official Academic Transcript (undergraduate or post-graduate) – Note: This requirement applies only to current students or to those who graduated from college or graduate school within the past five years.
- Professional resumé.
- Links to 1-2 video samples of your work (for example, TV interviews or appearances, speaking engagements, or similar). Alternatively, you may provide a 2-minute self-made video in which you discuss a topic of importance to you.
- Two letters of recommendation – professional or personal references, including from members of the Selection Committee, Steamboat Institute Board or National Advisory Board, friends of the Steamboat Institute, current and former employers, academics, mentors and others.
Members of the Selection Committee
Hadley Heath Manning – Director of Steamboat Institute’s Fellowship for Public Policy and American Exceptionalism and Tony Blankley Fellow.
Thomas P. McDevitt – Chairman, Board of Directors – The Washington Times
John B. Roberts II – Author, former Reagan White House and Reagan-Bush ’80 and ’84 campaign senior staff, and international political consultant.
Tom Rogan – Tony Blankley Senior Fellow, host of The McLaughlin Group, and columnist for Washington Examiner.
Matthew Spalding – Associate Vice President and Dean of Educational Programs — Hillsdale College
Ryan Wolfe – Director of the Center for Excellence in Journalism at The Fund for American Studies
Members Emeritus
Lynda Davis, Ph.D. – Widow of Tony Blankley
Lauren Maddox – Senior Policy Advisor, Holland & Knight LLP; former Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Education
Ed Meese – 75th Attorney General of the United States
John O’ Sullivan – British commentator and former speechwriter for Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher; Senior Fellow with National Review