Charlotte Hornets Foundation opens applications for fifth annual Rick Bonnell Memorial Scholarship for North Carolina journalism students

Scholarship program marks its fifth year

The Charlotte Hornets Foundation has opened applications for the fifth annual Rick Bonnell Memorial Scholarship, continuing an education initiative created to honor longtime Charlotte Observer basketball reporter Rick Bonnell. The scholarship provides a $10,000 award each year to a journalism student enrolled at a North Carolina college or university.

The program was established in 2021 as part of a broader set of tributes after Bonnell died on June 1, 2021, at age 63. Bonnell covered the franchise from its inaugural 1988 season through the 2020–21 season and was a former president of the Pro Basketball Writers Association.

How the scholarship is structured

Since the scholarship’s first awards, selections have been made through a review process involving Hornets staff along with members of Bonnell’s family and journalists familiar with his work. The scholarship has also included an on-court recognition component during a Hornets home game for the recipient.

Alongside the scholarship, the organization has maintained other Bonnell memorial elements inside Spectrum Center, including a renamed media and employee entrance. The franchise also created the Rick Bonnell Award, a separate annual honor voted on by local media members and presented to a Hornets player for professionalism and cooperation in media interactions.

Previous recipients and recent award history

The scholarship has been awarded annually since 2022. The first recipient was Noah Monroe, a Concord native and University of North Carolina student. The second recipient, Bianca Rodriguez Castillo, was recognized while attending UNC Charlotte. The third recipient was Shelby Swanson, a University of North Carolina journalism student.

In February 2025, Fayetteville State University student Shimei Ricks-Cook was named the fourth recipient of the scholarship. He was selected from nearly 100 applicants and was identified as the first recipient from a historically Black college or university. Ricks-Cook said he planned to apply the funding toward graduate study.

What applicants should know

• The award amount is $10,000.
• Eligibility is tied to enrollment as a journalism student at a North Carolina college or university.
• The scholarship is administered by the Charlotte Hornets Foundation as an annual program.

The scholarship and related recognitions were created as part of the franchise’s efforts to memorialize Bonnell’s role in documenting the team and engaging with players, staff and fans across multiple eras of Charlotte professional basketball.

Application instructions, deadlines and required materials are provided through the Hornets Foundation’s scholarship application process. The fifth-year opening continues the program’s focus on supporting emerging journalists while linking the award to Bonnell’s legacy in North Carolina sports coverage.