JGS Fellows Program
Website: Imagining America: Artists and Scholars in Public Life
Description
Thanks to a generous grant from the Joy of Giving Something, Inc., (JGS), Imagining America (IA) invites publicly engaged students who work with photography and/or digital media from our member institutions to apply for a 2018-2019 JGS Fellowship. Selected fellows will commit to a year-long learning exchange that includes tuition support, project support, and opportunities for professional development.
The goal of the JGS Fellows Program is to elevate photography and digital media as pathways for students to pursue their careers and to make a difference in their communities. The program specifically aims to support students for whom economic and family circumstances render such career pathways particularly challenging.
Over the course of the fellowship year, each fellow will:
- Receive a $2,000 tuition scholarship
- Receive mentorship and financial support for each Fellow’s community projects.
- Attend the Imagining America National Conference on October. Complimentary registration and travel awards are included.
- Participate in regular, virtual learning exchanges.
- Be connected to the consortium’s national network of scholars, educators, artists, and community organizers.
2021-2022 Program Timeline
| March 2021 | Call for applications opens |
| June 2021 | Call for applications closes |
| July 2021 | Selection and notification of fellows |
| August – September 2021 | Begin virtual exchanges among fellows, alumni, and professionals; initiation of fellows’ community projects |
| October 2021 | Participation of fellows in the virtual 2021 IA national program |
| November 2021 – May 2022 | Continuation of virtual exchanges among fellows, alumni, and professionals and of fellows’ community projects |
| June 2022 | Close** of 2021-22 cohort year and evaluation of 2021-22 program |
Eligibility
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I need to be a student majoring in photography or digital media to be eligible?
Undergraduate students in any major or area of study are encouraged to apply.
Do I need to be a U.S. citizen to be eligible?
No. Students are encouraged to apply regardless of their citizenship status.
How do I provide proof of financial need?
You can demonstrate need by providing a verifiable document usually by a student aid report. You can provide one of the following:
- Federal: 2021-22 Student Aid Report (SAR) from your Free Application for Federal Student Aid form (FAFSA)
- State: a copy of a report from your state’s 2020-2021 financial aid application that summarizes your estimated financial need.
- School: a copy of a summary from your school’s financial aid package that indicates your estimated financial need.
For purposes of the JGS Fellows Program, the SAR includes your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) which is used to determine financial need.
Procedure
To be considered, students must include the following in their application:
- A completed application form, which includes an essay response of no more than 500 words;
- Three work samples representative of your creative practice and demonstrating your skills in photography and/or digital media;
- Proof of financial need with a federal, state, or school financial aid report for the 2021-22 academic year (See FAQ, below, for additional info);
- A letter of recommendation from a faculty or staff member at your undergraduate institution, or a community organization member. Recommenders should send email letters directly to jgtruong@ucdavis.edu.
Essay Prompt
Please address at least one of the questions listed below for your essay response. Responses should reflect your creative process, personal experiences and skills you have with a community organization, and outcomes you hope to achieve by connecting your photography or digital media skills with your community work. (500 word limit)
• What motivates you to use photography or digital media in your community or public engagement?
• What was a pivotal moment that occurred for you doing this work?
• What obstacles have you faced in realizing your community or public work, and how have you continued through them?
Link to Application: Click Here
Students of all majors/areas of study are welcome to apply.
Please contact the program manager, Jeremy Truong, with any questions at jgtruong@ucdavis.edu.
Fellows will be announced in July. Tuition scholarships will be dispersed in two parts, half at the beginning of the fall semester, and the second half at the beginning of the spring semester.