ASIFA-Hollywood’s Animation Educators Forum - 2024/25 Scholarship

ASIFA-Hollywood’s Animation Educators Forum (AEF) provides an important link between the animation industry and students, and will provide well-deserved scholarships to students in their journey towards membership in the global animation community.

We are accepting applications for the academic year 2024-25. Our online application site www.scholarships.animationeducatorsforum.org will go live on June 1, 2024. Scholarship awards will be announced after August 1, 2024.

Application materials will include:

1. A short biography (500 words maximum) describing the applicant’s experience as an animation major. (Tips: This could include why you chose animation as a major, 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)
2. A proposal (1,000 words maximum) for the scholarship, describing how the award will be used and how it will benefit the applicant’s goals in animation. (Tip: Stay on target – know how you intend to use the funds and communicate that clearly. For example, tell us about that incredible project you have planned and how the award will help you complete it – support your request with proof of concept artwork, a project timeline and measurable goals)
3. An estimated budget (500 words maximum) describing how the funds will be spent. For example, the budget might include a list of equipment, itemized travel expenses or tuition. (Tip: Use realistic estimates that you have researched and be as specific as possible. Your budget should be related to the goals outlined in your proposal for the use of scholarship funds. Bad example: $1,000 for creation of animated short – far too vague and may be unrealistic. Good example: $699 for 1 hour of voice acting quoted from voicebunny.com)
4. Still art (10 piece maximum) and/or an animation reel (2 minutes maximum) demonstrating the applicant’s strengths and/or artistic breadth OR a formal abstract for an academic paper. These supporting documents will be based on the type of application (creative animation proposal or animation study/research) - all three are NOT required for any applicant.
5. Two letters of recommendation: one from a faculty member that is familiar with the work of the applicant and one from a current ASIFA member OR an individual with verifiable professional animation experience (see notes below).

NOTE: If the applicant is unable to secure a recommendation from an ASIFA member in the area, his/her school or faculty member may join any ASIFA chapter to fulfill this requirement. If the applicant is unable to find a willing party, he/she may substitute a recommendation from an individual with professional animation experience that may be verified by the Animation Educators Forum.

NOTE: If locating an ASIFA chapter/member or animation professional is too difficult, the applicant should contact Dori Littell-Herrick at (scholarships.aef@gmail.com) to discuss other possibilities.

REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS WHO ACCEPT THE AWARD

Members of ASIFA-Hollywood’s Animation Educators Forum Scholarship Committee will stay in touch with the awardees throughout the scholarship year. All awardees will be required to provide ASIFA-Hollywood with:

1. Permission to use the awardee’s artwork and/or scholarly writings in promoting the Scholarship.
2. Midyear and Final Reports that document how the scholarship was utilized
3. A brief essay describing how the award supported the student’s educational goals (included with the final report)
4. A reel, collection of still images or academic paper showcasing the student’s creative and/or scholarly work that the Scholarship Award supported
5. A photographic image that may be used in promoting the scholarship