H/L Celebrates Fifth Year of Josh Nichol Memorial Scholarship

Sep. 22, 2026

Independent full-service advertising and marketing agency H/L welcomes the fifth year of its Josh Nichol Memorial Scholarship program. Named for H/L’s late CEO, Josh Nichol, the scholarship was created to honor his legacy of collaboration and mentorship that permeated San Francisco’s advertising industry for decades. The scholarship is part of the H/L Foundation, which drives a range of community-oriented initiatives, from holiday help and volunteering to pro bono work, all with the shared goal of helping the communities they call home. Including this year, H/L has provided more than 40 scholarships to local high school seniors interested in a career in advertising.

As CEO of H/L, Josh Nichol helped shape a culture defined by teamwork and creativity and was known for his passion for others' success. The scholarship carries his commitment forward, supporting high school students who plan to pursue higher education and careers in marketing, advertising, media, and other creative arts.

In an industry that has long relied on young talent, the Josh Nichol Memorial Scholarship and its mentorship component give students an early foothold in a competitive job market, along with the relationships and guidance to help build long-lasting careers. This year’s program included a new milestone: three former H/L interns, now full-time employees, returned to speak directly with scholarship recipients at participating high schools. These meaningful connections and relatable role models helped incoming high school students understand what advertising is and the different roles within it. 

Trey Curtola, Chairman of H/L remarks:

"We have never seen such high engagement from the students. Ultimately, we want to give more opportunities to students within the communities local to our H/L offices and create strong advertising leaders from those areas. Josh Nichol was an icon in his own right, but he believed that the best way to honor an outstanding leader is to create more of them. This initiative and scholarship program is something we’re all extraordinarily proud of, and we know he’d be just as proud to celebrate the excellence of these students, reward their curiosity, and set them up for success."