Pencil in These Scholarships for Animation Students
It's the season for summer blockbusters, and if you've hit the theater recently, chances are that you've watched a movie with animation sequences. For audiences young and old, animation can put the magic in media, whether in films or in computer games.
If the idea of learning how to make that magic inspires you, then your future career might just start with a degree in animation. To aid your aspirations, here are several animation scholarships worth your attention.
Considering that the entertainment industry provides some of the largest opportunities for animation jobs, it's no surprise that it also offers some of the most lucrative awards. For the Hollywood-minded, the Warner Bros. Animation Reach Honorship Program is the full package.
[Check out these scholarships that help pay for an art degree.]
The "honorship" includes four full-time paid summer internships, beginning the summer immediately following high school graduation; mentoring with an expert in the field, including a different mentor for each summer internship; professional development opportunities; and a $10,000 scholarship distributed in equal chunks each academic year at $2,500 per year. Although the 2014 winner has been chosen, bookmark the website for an updated application.
Another big name in visual effects and animation, Sony Pictures Imageworks, distributes the Sande Scoredos Memorial Scholarship, named after a pioneer in the industry. Offered through IPAX, an academic outreach program for faculty and students created under Scoredos' leadership, the award is available to students who want to pursue careers in animation, visual effects or related technology.
Applicants complete an essay about future goals, a personal biography and provide a link to their online reel. You must be a current full-time college student carrying at least 12 credit hours to apply, and applications are available based on recommendation from a faculty representative. Although the April 1 deadline has passed, be sure to check back for news about next year's program.
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Animation scholarships aren't limited to moviemaking. If you're committed to working in children's media development or research, the Mister Rogers Memorial Scholarship could be right up your creative alley.
Four $10,000 scholarships are given annually by the Television Academy Foundation to master's or Ph.D. students who want to work in children's media, which Fred Rogers cultivated through his long-running television program. The award also includes mentorship throughout the academic year by a children's programming professional. Check back later this year for a new funding cycle.
If gaming is more your medium, consider the Randy Pausch Scholarship Fund. The award is in memory of the co-founder of Carnegie Mellon University's Entertainment Technology Center, a computer science professor who received acclaim for his inspirational "Last Lecture." In honor of his legacy, the scholarship program supports full-time undergraduate or graduate students seeking careers in interactive entertainment, including animation.
[Take a look at these scholarships for film students.]
If you're interested in applying next year, the program requires a minimum GPA of 3.3, a statement about your studies and how you intend to benefit the game industry, as well as two letters of recommendation.
Last but not least, look into your college or university's financial aid office for animation scholarships. The Savannah College of Art and Design, for example, offers the Animation Pegbar Endowed Scholarship for current students.
On top of these national scholarships, institutional and local awards can make a huge difference in paying for your program. A combination of these resources will help ensure that your goal of an animation degree becomes a reality.
Carissa Chang joined Scholarship America in 2013. She is an alumna of Taylor University and a former scholarship recipient.
