FINANCIAL AID OPPORTUNITIES

Financial Aid

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The Theatre and Media Arts department provides a variety of finacial aid opportunities for its students. Merit scholarships are available for both incoming and continuing students. Groups or individuals within the program may apply for the Fulton grant (go to the Fulton application). Students in their senior year qualify to apply for the Outstanding Student award. There are additional funding opportunities available through the college and university.

Merit Scholarships

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Merit Scholarships, also known as "talent awards," are scholarships given to select students seeking for financial aid toward tuition and school debt. They are intended for both incoming and continuing students. They range between $100 and $765 per semester, and are awarded in February for the following spring/summer terms and fall and winter semesters. Awards are nontransferable.

Recipients must generally be full-time, degree-seeking students majoring in Theatre and Media Arts during the year for which he or she applies. Any student who receives a talent award during the course of the semester is put on academic probation and will forfeit the award. This also applies to students who change their major outside the Theatre and Media Arts department during the award period. For questions, email Stephanie Blickfeldt at stephanie.blickfeldt@byu.edu.

Creative samples have proven advantageous to applying students. You can attach these to your application or send them by email to stephanie.blickfeldt@byu.edu.

For incoming students pursuing the BFA Acting program: Auditions for Merit Scholarships will be held on campus on Martin Luther King Day (January 16, 2012) from 9:00-4:00. Additional audition times may be available during the UTA Conference, hosted by BYU from January 26-28, 2012. Prepare two contrasting monologues (typically comedy and drama) that total 3 minutes, and also prepare for a 10-minute interview. The audition should total about 15 minutes long. To schedule an appointment, please email Jennifer Hansen at the_assistant@byu.edu.
Notice: This is not an audition that will get you into the BFA Acting progam; it is an opportunity for you to increase your eligibility for admission into the university and to receive aid for tuition. For information about proficiencies, go to "BFA Acting" under "Theatre Programs."

 

Application Deadline

The application deadline is Friday, February 10, 2012 for Spring 2012, Summer 2012, Fall 2012, and Winter 2013. Please submit your application ahead of time to ensure your eligibility.

Download the Merit Scholarship Application–Incoming Student

Download the Merit Scholarship Application–Continuing Student


 

Outstanding Student Award

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The Outstanding Student Award provides the opportunity for students to receive a cash award and recognition at the year-end Theatre and Media Arts student celebration.

The following are the criteria used to determine the Outstanding Student in the Theatre and Media Arts Department:

• GPA
• Service to the department
• Service to other students
• Evidence of sound career preparation and planning
• Evidence of ability to make a significant difference in the field
• Ability to present himself/herself effectively.
 

Download the Outstanding Student Application for Theatre Students

 

Application Deadline

The Outstanding Student Award application is due to the TMA Office in D-581 HFAC by 5 pm on Tuesday, March 6, 2012.

Teaching Assistantships

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An assistantship is an award granted to students who assist professors with their research or teaching responsibilities. Assistants are paid a stipend in exchange for the tasks they perform for the department. Responsibilities could include teaching labs, grading papers, research, writing and other administrative tasks. Assistantships look great on resumes as they offer valuable teaching and/or researching opportunities as well as a chance to work closely with individual professors.

Theatre Arts Assistantships

If you are interested in applying for a theatre acting, directing, or critical studies assistantship, you may download an application below or you may pick one up in the TMA Office (D-581 HFAC). We strongly recommend that you speak with the instructor(s) of the course(s) you are interested in assisting for and inform them of your interest. Graduate students especially are encouraged to apply for assistantships.

Application Deadline

Applications are due the last Monday in February.

Media Arts Assistantships

Media Arts assistantships are currently by appointment; no application is used. If you are interested in an assistantship for Media Arts, please see the instructor of the course where your interest lies.

TA Application for Theatre Critical Studies

TA Application for Acting and Directing

Project Funding

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Looking for a way to fund a special project in an area such as theatre or film? There are several funding options available for you.

Note: In almost every instance funding is reimbursed upon receipt of proof of expenditure.

Fulton Student & Faculty Support Grants

Application deadlines: November 15 and March 28

The basic criteria for this funding grant is whether or not the proposed activity makes a significant contribution to the student's academic interests or moves the student toward his or her future career path. The project must be an essential part of the applicant's educational purposes, tied to their scholarly or professional goals. For details and applications, see the Fulton Application Process.

ORCA Grants - (University Grant)

Application deadline: November 1

The Undergraduate Research Scholarship is sponsored by the Office of Research and Creative Activities. Sophomores and above who are prepared and are in good standing and carrying 6 credit hours per semester can apply for the $1500 scholarship. Applications are available in the ORCA office (A-261 ASB) or in the TMA Office.

Student applicants must be enrolled in a Media Arts class directly related to the project in order to receive approval for any media production project.

Oscarson Discovery Grants - (College Grant)

Application deadline: March 11

The primary objectives of the Oscarson Grant assist the student to:

• gain public commercial exposure,
• receive training in the "Business of Art," and
• network within specific professional disciplines.
 

Preference is given to seniors or students pursuing graduate degrees. Applications are available in the Dean's office (A-501 HFAC).

The Film Resource and Funding Committee

Application Deadline: October 14, 2011

The Film Resource and Funding Committee (FRFC) funds the development and production of imaginative and forward-thinking film and television projects that support the educational mission of BYU.

For more information, click here.

Laylock Center for Creative Collaboration

The purpose of this endowment is to create opportunities for students in the College of Fine Arts and Communications to develop and excel in collaborative environments under tutelage of master mentors. The endowment will promote and enable creative collaboration among faculty, students, artists, educators, and scholars in any of the various disciplines of the College, and establish a unique culture of student mentoring. Available earnings from the endowment will be used to (1) direct faculty and student energies toward collaborative creative activity, (2) encourage a wide variety of creative projects and establish a pervasive creative focus, (3) enable creative projects to move from concept to realization, (4) promote collaboration as a valid form of academic and creative work, (5) give as many students as reasonably possible an opportunity for a significant mentoring experience, and (6) facilitate ties and interchanges with the public.

When writing the report, please remember the following:

1. Project Description--be specific and detailed: who and how many were involved, where it occurred, calendar of events, major landmarks in the project, etc.
2. Project Result--be specific and detailed: outcomes of the project, how it benefits/influences students, your discipline, type and number of mentoring experiences and the number of students involved, possible national or international impact, etc.
3. Detailed Report of Financial Activity: specific costs incurred, all funds used to cover expenses, etc.
4. Triplicate Copies of Documentation: original programs, DVDs, CDs, publicity materials, feedback received, and digital photo files on one CD
5. Original Letters to the Laycock Donors: As with any donor-funded grant, it is expected that recipients of Laycock funds acknowledge their appreciation with a written letter.  This includes the primary applicant, as well as all other major recipients/participants.  If students have been directly impacted by a project, they should also submit letters indicating appreciation and telling about their experience.  These letters should be addressed to the Laycock Donors, and attached to the Funding Report.