Given the rotten economy and all the stories about graduating high school seniors having trouble paying for college, it's astounding that with a Friday deadline approaching, no one has applied for two $2,500 scholarships for careers in television, broadcasting or electronic media, according to the University of St. Thomas' Lynda McDonnell.

Times are tough in the business, people, but not that tough.

The dough, awarded by the Upper Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (the Emmy people), doesn't come with many strings. Yes, you have to be accepted to a school with broadcasting or electronic media program, pursue that major, and come from Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa or western Wisconsin. But you don't even have to have a 3.0 GPA (though it's preferred).

The scholarships are named after former KSTP-TV and WCCO-TV V.P. Ed Piette, who now runs Boston's WBZ-TV. The program does stress leadership, which at this point can be demonstrated by filling out the application here.