Rich Clarkson spent 25 years as director of photography at The Topeka Capital-Journal and later led the photo and art department at The Denver Post as Assistant Managing Editor for Graphics. In the 1980s, he served as Director of Photography for National Geographic Magazine. For decades, he has also worked as a contract photographer for Sports Illustrated, photographing 59 NCAA Final Four basketball tournaments and producing more than 30 Sports Illustrated covers. His work spans six Olympic Games and is especially known for its storytelling at college basketball and track and field competitions.
Clarkson is the founder of Clarkson Creative, a publishing and photography company based in Denver, and the creator of the Summit Series of Workshops, which for more than two decades have brought together leading photographers and visual artists to teach and mentor emerging talent in photojournalism.
Throughout his career, Clarkson has been recognized for his ability to identify, mentor, and support photographers with strong journalistic instincts, curiosity, and leadership potential. His influence extends through the many photographers he has hired, mentored, and inspired at every level of the profession.
Clarkson has received numerous honors, including the National Press Photographers Association’s Sprague Award, the organization’s highest recognition. His alma mater, the University of Kansas, has also honored him with the William Allen White Medal and the Fred Ellsworth Award, the university’s highest alumni recognition.
The Rich Clarkson Founders Scholarship is an annual award established by the National Press Photographers Foundation to honor Rich Clarkson’s lifelong commitment to photojournalism, leadership, and education. Clarkson is one of the four founders of the National Press Photographers Foundation, which was established in 1975, and is a past president of the National Press Photographers Association.
The scholarship awards a $2,000 stipend annually. Applicants must be undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in an accredited four-year college or university. A three-person scholarship committee selects the recipient, with emphasis placed on professionalism, leadership, work ethic, and a demonstrated commitment to photojournalism.
This scholarship reflects Rich Clarkson’s enduring dedication to visual journalism education and supports future generations of student photojournalists who embody the values of excellence, integrity, and generosity that have defined his career.
