ASIFA-Hollywood and the Animation Educators Forum (AEF) announce the 2016 Scholarship Program that plans to award $34,500 in scholarships to local, national and international animation students. “The scholarship judges are looking for students who are passionate about animation and willing to work hard to reach a professional standard,” says Dori Littell-Herrick for the AEF. “That is why our AEF scholarship is focused towards students who have completed a year of college and are committed to the study of animation.” 

Scholarships are merit-based and designed to support college students in continuing their education in the field of animation. Proposals will be accepted for undergraduate students entering their second year and above, and for graduate students. Awards range from $2500 to $5000 and may be applied to tuition, books and supplies, animation hardware or software, and senior or graduate thesis projects. Additionally, all scholarship awardees will receive a one-year Associate Membership to ASIFA-Hollywood.

Applications for academic year 2016-17 are available now and located here: scholarships.animationeducatorsforum.org.

Application material will include:

  • A short biography describing your experience as an animation major. This could include why you chose animation, a course or teacher that has been meaningful to you, your participation in your school’s animation club, and any animation-related internship or work experience that you have had;
  • A two-page proposal for the scholarship describing how you will use the award and how that will benefit the student's goals in animation;
  • An animation reel (1-6 minutes) and/or 10 pieces of still art demonstrating your strengths and/or artistic breadth;
  • Two letters of recommendation, one from a faculty advisor and one from a member of any ASIFA chapter. (If your faculty advisor is also a member of ASIFA, please choose another faculty member from your school for your second recommendation letter.)

Applications are due by June 15, 2016 and winners will be announced mid-July. Additional details of the program are available on the AEF website: www.animationeducatorsforum.org.